As we head into this Christmas season, I wanted to
take some time to focus on the true reason for the season—the birth of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, our Redeemer and coming King.
It is truly amazing to me to see how quickly long-accepted
and cherished truths and traditions are being rejected and transformed to
accommodate the decaying moral culture and so-called political correctness of
our day.
I grew up in a time when Christmas was a national
celebration of the birth of Jesus and the atmosphere at that time of year was
permeated with Christmas carols and nativity scenes alongside all the Santa
Claus stuff. Schools proudly staged
performances in which the students reenacted the Christmas story and sang
carols to the delight of family and friends.
I believe the founders of our nation who crafted
the constitution would be appalled to see how their words have been tortured to
support judicial rulings that have resulted in an ongoing erosion and
elimination of the very freedoms it was crafted to protect. Our founders intended for us to have the
freedom to worship God as we please without the interference of the
government. The ruling elite in America today
are doing their best to eliminate the influence of God and his word in our
society.
I am reminded of the words of Jesus as He taught
His disciples regarding the days before His return: Matthew 24:-11-12 “…many false prophets will appear and
deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most
will grow cold….” (NIV)
God is the source of all true love; so it is no
wonder to me that as the time approaches for the Lord’s return, society is
becoming morally decadent as His truth is rejected and false teaching is
embraced by the masses.
In spite of the declaration by many today that
truth is relative, that just is not true.
Truth is by definition a statement of fact or actuality. Whether or not one chooses to accept truth does
not change its reality.
There are many today who refuse to accept God’s word
as declared in scripture as true. At
some point in the future, these people will find themselves face-to-face before
the Lord in fear and trembling because of their rejection of that truth.
God has announced His Being through His creation
so clearly and abundantly that scripture declares that men will stand before
Him without excuse if they choose to reject that testimony.
Romans 1:18–21 “For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Today, more than ever before, scientific studies
are revealing more and more regarding the power, intelligence and wisdom of our
Creator.
The computer has basically joined mankind once
again in a common language, and the call for a one-world government is getting
louder and louder. I am reminded of
God’s words in Genesis when describing His thoughts regarding man’s
accomplishments at the tower of Babel.
Genesis 11:6 “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and
they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be
restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
This is another reason why I feel the time is
short. God confused the languages to
thwart man’s rebellion at Babel. This
time I believe that He is allowing mankind to make the advances necessary to
prepare for the coming one-world ruler commonly known as the Antichrist,
Satan’s ultimate deceiver. This leader
will actually control the known world for 3.5 years before the Lord Jesus
returns as King to destroy His enemies and establish His kingdom. The control he is able to establish will be
made possible by the technological advances of our time.
Because God knew all before creating one thing
(awesome truth to ponder), He declared His love for us by formulating a plan
for our redemption before we ever sinned.
His plan is so radical and beyond our understanding that people stumble
in the light of its truth.
Man needed a perfect, willing sacrifice to suffer
the judgment of our sin. It was man that
sinned, and it was man that had to be judged for that sin.
Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned….”
Since the sin nature of man is inherited through
the Father, only a man born of a virgin could qualify as that sacrifice. Not only would he have to be born of a
virgin, he would have to live a life without sin in complete submission and
obedience to God. In God’s wisdom He
decided to send His only Son to be born of a virgin and live as a man without
sin to qualify as that sacrifice.
(to be continued…)
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