WISE WORDS FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN

I was listening to Steve Hadley recently, and he used a quote from Abraham Lincoln that really struck me.

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving, too proud to pray to the God that made us.  It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our nations sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

Abraham Lincoln

March 30, 1863

Isn’t it amazing how a quote from over 150 years ago still resonates so strongly regarding the state of our nation!

There is no doubt that America has been greatly blessed by the Almighty throughout most of our history and have grown to possess wealth and power to the point that we have been recognized as the richest, most powerful, influential nation on planet earth.  I’m afraid that is not going to be true much longer.

“BUT we have forgotten God.”  Sad to say, not only have we forgotten God, we have basically rejected God.  He is no longer welcome in our government, our schools or—more and more every day—in society as a whole.   It is becoming increasingly clear that those of us who choose to live our lives based on the truth of God’s word are being identified as troublemakers, unloving and disruptive to society.

Sadly, more and more people that profess to be “Christian” are making the decision to reject the truth of scripture and align themselves with false teaching so as to be able to be politically correct and fit in with the culture.  The problem is that the truth of God’s word is irrefutable and unchangeable.  Those who can so easily reject that truth, usually by perverting it to make it mean what they want towards supporting a personal agenda, need to examine their profession.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith….”

Scripture is very clear in declaring that the word of God stands forever, and its truth is everlasting.  A true Christian accepts this truth.  Do you?

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

Psalms 119:89 “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

Psalms 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”

Scripture is also very clear in declaring that you can identify a man/woman by his/her fruits.

Matthew 7:15 & 20–23 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves….Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

A true believer is one that possesses the indwelling Holy Spirit and acts accordingly—again, producing the appropriate fruit.

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Galatians 5:22–24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Ephesians 5:8–10 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

John adds one more important point that should be included in your examination.

1 John 2:21–22 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?”

John declares that a true believer will not deny that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, our Savior, the anointed Son of God.

Titus 2:11–14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Luke 1:30–35 “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS….Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Have you examined yourself honestly?  Did you pass? 

Virgin Born Son of God, Savior and Redeemer, King Jesus

The promise of a Savior - Genesis 3:14–15 “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Prophecy that the promised Savior will be virgin born - Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Prophecy that the promised Savior will the “a son…The mighty God” - Isaiah 9:6–7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Announcement to the earthly father of Jesus that the child of his wife Mary is the prophesied Savior - Matthew 1:20–23 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Jesus tells the disciples about his coming death and resurrection - Mark 8:31 “And he [Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

Why Jesus died - Isaiah 53:5–6 “But he [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Jesus was crucified as foretold and as He told His disciples - Matthew 27:35–37 “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

The resurrection of Jesus - Matthew 28:1–7 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.”

Jesus returns to heaven and the promise of His return - Acts 1:9–11 “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

The future return of Jesus as declared by God through John - Revelation 19:11–16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…and his name is called The Word of God….And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The 1000 year reign of Jesus, the millennium - Revelation 20:4–6 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Jesus will reign over the whole earth - Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

The reign of Jesus will be characterized by righteousness and peace - Isaiah 11:1–9 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots….But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

I can’t wait! - Revelation 22:20 “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Are you ready?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

WHEN I CONSIDER THE HEAVENS

Psalms 8:1–9 “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

This is a beautiful psalm of praise from the pen of Israel’s shepherd king, David.  As a shepherd, he spent many nights under the stars of heaven and recognized that they gave but a glimpse of the glory of their Creator.  I can certainly relate to David since I love to “consider the heavens.” 

David recognizes that the stars and planets are God’s artistry, his craftsmanship, “the work of His fingers” set in place according to His plan and purpose for our benefit.  He placed them in position and set them in motion in such a way as to be dependable and predictable. By considering the heavens we can learn to navigate the oceans and predict the weather.  The rising and setting of the sun and the phases of the moon enable us to define time and chart the seasons.  It’s just amazing to me to know that the same stars and planets that I see were the very same as those seen by Abraham, Ruth, David, Esther, Peter etc.

As David “considers the heavens,” he begins to feel very small and insignificant.  How can man occupy a position of any consequence in the mind of the Creator?  How does man even come to His remembrance in comparison to such beauty and majesty?  More to the point—how does David rate any type of personal recognition from God, let alone His pointed care and provision?

David’s thoughts mirror those of every person who comes to know God intimately through relationship and the study of His word.  You can’t help but wonder why He cares about us so much!  We have continually rebelled against His authority and taken His provision for us for granted.  Still He provided His Son as the sacrifice for “my” sin and continues to reach out to us in love.  It’s beyond my human understanding!

Order and authority are part of God’s plan.  Man occupies a position “a little lower than the angels.”  There seem to be different “levels” of responsibility and authority assigned to angels—archangels, seraphim, cherubim, etc.  God has also delegated “levels” of authority for man—husband over wife over children; kings and rulers over government leaders over citizens, etc.; and each of those of authorities are answerable to the LORD.  Man was created to be the delegated authority over all the creatures on planet earth.

Genesis 1:26-28 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

I think the crowning glory and honor of man was to have been created “in the image of God.”  The angels cannot claim this privilege.  Being created in the image of God has placed man in a unique position to enjoy fellowship as part of a family relationship with the Creator that no other creature of His creation can experience.

David closes with the words of praise with which be started this song.  It’s an exclamation point on the glory, power, and majesty of the Creator.

What an amazing Almighty God I serve!