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STAND & COMFORT Newsletter December 05, 2001 #1 SOME THOUGHTS ON BIG BROTHER I received the following from John Beardsley. He brings out some good points and I thought my comments might expand them in relation to what is now, and what will be. I don't know if John will agree with all I say, but here are my thoughts on his email. To get on the soap box for a minute, First off, I agree with John in that I don't think big brother has totally arrived, but I do believe he's certainly on the way. And as in so many things today, big brother's riding in on good things being done against evil things. For the moment, the purpose for these devices isn't chasing down Christians, but it is against Biblical common sense to think that it will not be a major aspect of this some day, probably someday soon. I think John would agree with that. The push towards intolerance within the religious arena tells us that. The world will put up with tolerance of the Christian gospel for only so long. But concerning New York and Washington and the anthrax episodes, the world has no other way to deal with such things except as it has. Those events were and are evil, and I don't believe any nation would endure such things and not make a vital effort to improve security and take steps to protect its people against such men and events in the future. A nation would be crazy not to gird up its security and bring in better measures to track terrorists. You would think law enforcement has to be tired at this point - who knows - and there is no doubt that the devices John mentioned are going to help them. We cannot, though, look at these things without acknowledging the Biblical fact that there is one whom the world cannot wiretap, one who uses the battle between good and evil to further what he wants. I am talking about the evil one, Satan, and he easily manipulates the world and fallen humanity. The world is already his because it trusts in a system based on good and evil, the good and evil being determined by man-made laws. Scripture says, 1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. In view of this, we must remember that the antichrist will arise because he is a law-manipulator, a changer of the times and the seasons. I don't believe it is far-fetched to say that if he is bold enough to change the times and seasons of the law of God, he certainly has no problem with manipulating the legislators of the countries of the world to bring in a one-world system. The problem comes in when the world believes it is doing something good when it is actually something evil, or at the least will be manipulated to an evil end. I've spoken of an example of this in the past: how children are manipulated by the evil one through the Super-Hero phenomena. Remember He-Man? He had super powers and fought for good, and his enemy The Skull used occult powers and was depicted as evil. The kids, of course, shoulted their hoorays for He-Man, and their motto was, "I've got the Power!" The manipulation had already taken effect at this point because He-Man's powers were occultic as well, yet seen as good. The old saying applies here, "Damned if you do, and damned if you don't" and its all part of the working of the mystery of iniquity. Paul wrote: 2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: . . . If iniquity is working within the Church, how much more power does it have to work in the world against God and his people? The United States' increasing surveillance in this country, freeing Afghanistan from terrorists overseas, etc. are good things, but these events do draw the world closer to a new world order. It's a natural outcome because that is the way the world has to head according to the word of God. I believe that because fallen humanity has to deal with its troublesome situations by legislating good against evil, the evil one is given an open door to manipulate the world into the global oneness that will supposedly bring peace and security. Why do I believe that? Because the world does not know what good and evil really is from a Biblical perspective, and it has no discernment to tell when it is being deceived and manipulated by evil spirits in the overall scheme of things. The good that it does have can be dangerous because it doesn't have the knowledge of the spiritual realm that will keep its good from being manipulated into evil. The result is described in Jeremiah: Jeremiah 8:11 . . . Peace, peace; when there is no peace. God does say such a manipulation will occur and that it will be worldwide. This principle still applies today: "the woman saw that the tree was good for food" (Gen 3:6). To a great extent, I think the world is trapped into creating its own crises because of sin while at the same time trying to legislate evil out of the world so there will be unity and peace. Don't get me wrong. I think civil laws are good when they are used properly, but I wonder how much an increase in law increases the manifestation of sin in sinful humanity? God gave Israel His law to increase transgressions so they would see their need for a Savior. Does the same apply to the world making its laws, that those laws given for the good of society actually increase their transgression? I believe there is some truth to that, yet what alternative does the world have? It's trapped in an endless cycle of laws, the breaking of laws, and the punishing of those who break them. While pursuing cleansing the earth of the Taliban, our government has treated Muslims with respect as people, and that's right. Muslims who are not in the terrorist business deserve to be helped and fed and respected as any human being should be. That's merciful and a good thing, and is seen as such by both the world and the Christian. The problems start when the religious or spiritual aspect is added. God says there can be no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor 6:15-16), while the world praises the unity shown by the world's religions in praying for God's blessings. Suddenly we have problems; suddenly Christianity sticks out as a hindrance to what the world wants: unity resulting in peace and harmony. Suddenly, the evil one has a tremendous opportunity to manipulate the masses sitting on the edge of possible further disaster and ready to soak up the message of unity against evil at all levels at all costs. More and more, the Christian is seen as evil in the eyes of some, because he cannot cross the line to stand in the world and honor what the world wants. Already we have heard stories of people, even in the pulpits, saying who we can and can't preach the gospel to. Why? Because the gospel is offensive and its message does not promote spiritual unity and harmony outside of Christ: Believe on Christ as the only way, the truth and the only life of salvation. I don't have it recorded and so can't quote them, but on one day, Fox interviewers pushed at this one question while interviewing Jerry Falwell and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. The first time around, Falwell answered briefly but not satisfactorily. The interviewer came right back and pushed the question back at him: If one does not believe in Jesus Christ, will they go to hell? Falwell stood his ground and said who Jesus is and what He said. I am not a supporter of Jerry Falwell, but good for him this time. Scripture says that the devil will not go on with his manipulations to bring about a united, global religious coalition without dealing with his main hindrance, Christianity: Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? . . . I think "conspiracy theorists" range from the fringe to the sensible and cautious, and I also think that one day security measures and other laws will be extremely, negatively detrimental to the Christian's existence. But that is how the world has to deal with what it sees to be evil because the world: 1. does not believe on Christ as the only way to salvation and peace 2. does not see things through the eyes of God and His word 3. does not have discernment to know when it is being deceived 4. does not have discernment to see good as potential evil or changing from good to evil #2 A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM NOAH AND THE ARK The other night I was watching a movie, the content of which was seven episodes from the book of Genesis. The scenes from Noah and the Ark were pretty tremendous, especially the interaction between Noah's family and the animals, as they fed and cared for them while they listened in awe at the sounds coming from outside the Ark. The movie finally progressed to the point where the Ark lifted from the ground and floated on the water. As I watched it, I thought, "The Ark had no visible oars or rudder." It just floated aimlessly over the waters with no place to dock. How often have you felt that way, being swept here and there with no way to stop the battering winds and tossing seas of life? "My, Ed, such poetic rhetoric?" No, life does have its winds and tossing seas, and our flesh wants something to hold onto so control can be maintained and life doesn't go out of control. We often feel that we have lost the oars and that our lives don't seem to have a rudder to guide us through the floods and storms. Noah had no control over the winds that blew the Ark here and there, but he didn't go looking for oars. He had no control over the rains and torrents of the sea bashing the Ark from one side and then the other, but he didn't say to himself, "Oh, my, I forgot to put a rudder on this thing." What did he do? He took care of his family and the animals and rested in the safety of the Ark knowing there was one who could guide him through the storm. They ate and kept nourished, they rested, and they did what had been given them to do. Through it all, Noah trusted in one who knew every angle and velocity of the winds and every degree of power of the waves and exactly where that Ark would end up: Gen 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. The winds of persecution and waves of adversity against true Christianity are increasing and one can smell the aroma of tribulation ahead. God knows where these things will take us, but let us be reminded that we are to eat of Him through His word, rest in Him and his promised salvation and return, and do what He has given and gives us to do. Out of a fear of and love for our God wrapped in true hope, God would have us rest in His salvation, His faithfulness and His promise to return, because He knows that His Ark will arrive at its proper destination in His time: Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ========== This newsletter will be sent out whenever I think there is something the body of Christ needs to consider, to build it up, to give it encouragement or comfort in hard times. To sign up for this newsletter, email Ed at edju@velocity.net |