Sunday, January 15, 2017

THE GOD WHO LAUGHS - “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” Lawlessness, properly understood, is a life of disobedience to the law of God—a deliberate trampling upon His law. It is mankind’s contempt for God and his decision to do as he pleases. Society moves further and further away from God and morality at a faster and ever tightening pace.

The God Who Laughs

Ch. R. Scott Savell
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
No one can possibly fail to see the lawlessness that pervades our society today.
The nation watched as FBI Director James Comey laid out the case against Hillary Clinton for her total disregard for Federal Law and common sense over her handling of classified information.
I don’t know about you but I sat in stunned disbelief as he announced there would be no recommendation for an indictment.
As one who holds a TOP SECRET National Security Clearance, I am sure I would already be in jail had I been found to have mishandled only a fraction of the classified information Mrs. Clinton and her staff mishandled.
One thing is for sure, there is no longer such a thing as the rule of law. Lawlessness is now firmly entrenched in our society and world.
Jesus foretold this lawlessness in Matthew as one of the signs leading up to His return to this world.
 I do not believe He is referring to lawlessness in a purely civil sense. I am sure He has in mind lawlessness as it relates to God’s law, as well.
Consider how far we have come as a society in just a few short years. That which the Bible clearly calls evil society now calls good.
Religious freedom, something not necessarily promised to us in Scripture, is now a thing of the past. Anyone who disagrees or takes a stand on purely religious conviction is shunned, ostracized, and destroyed.
To me, it is like a giant whirlpool sucking everything and everyone towards the center of the vortex. I witnessed one such whirlpool as I sailed from Alaska to Washington a few years ago.
As the outgoing tide increased in velocity it caused the waters of the intercostal waterway to begin to rotate until it looked something like the picture above.
I am thankful the ferryboat captain chose to steer clear of this whirling vortex rather than sail through it.
Such a picture is an excellent illustration of how lawlessness works. Society moves further and further away from God and morality at a faster and ever tightening pace. 
Lawlessness, according to Scripture, will abound in the last days.
Lawlessness, properly understood, is a life of disobedience to the law of God—a deliberate trampling upon His law. It is mankind’s contempt for God and his decision to do as he pleases.
The Psalmist writes, “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’” (Psalm 2:2-3).
Such is the irony of man’s rebellion—devising, conspiring, and scheming against God and His ways.
The Bible, however, reveals God’s response to such foolishness. “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain” (Psalm 2:4-6). 
I can almost hear the Lord saying, “Scorn My law all you want to but there is a payday coming and it is coming very soon for My Son will soon return and establish His Kingdom which He will rule with a rod of iron and destroy all those who do evil.”
Perhaps this is why the Psalmist writes a few verses later, “Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:12)
I do not know about you but as the tide of lawlessness rolls over the world and the rotating vortex of destruction sucks in anything and everything it can, I am taking refuge in Jesus. I would encourage you to do the same.
The world is on a collision course to meet the God of the universe face-to-face. It will not be pretty.
John writes, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds… And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).
How will you fare when you meet God face-to-face?
Will you perish in the way, as the Psalmist writes, or will you join Christ upon Zion—His holy mountain?
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer: 
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“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” 
RELATED POSTS:
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Kiss the Son 
10 Things You Should Know about the Lordship of Christ 
The Great White Throne 
Judgment 

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“My God And King”   
      
     Terry MacAlmon            

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1G3Iqhv7CQBrienDoran

CLICK HERE . . .  to view complete playlist . . .
http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/11/my-god-and-king-through-storm-i-sing.html

lyrics

My God and King
To You alone I sing
You're the face I seek
For all eternity

You'd be my dream come true
Just to be with You
How I'd see brand new
With eyes for only You

My God and King
Through the storm I sing
Covered by Your wing
This song of love I bring

You are my dream come true
Just to be with You
Now I see brand new
With eyes for only You

Ch. R. Scott Savell studied Psychology, Sociology, and Religion at Mississippi College, graduating in 1993. He received a Master of Divinity in Missions and Evangelism from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001. He completed a residency in Clinical Pastoral Education through the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in 2011. His ministry has span more than 25 years and seven states. He served churches in Mississippi and Kentucky before entering the Air Force in 2003, where he has served as a chaplain for more than 13 years with assignments in Illinois, Texas, Alaska, and Florida. A firm believer in missions, he has participated in a number of short-term mission trips both at home and abroad. His travels have taken him to India, Israel, Senegal, France, Germany, Japan, Curacao, and The Philippines. He is a Pastor/Theologian, Teacher, Author, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, and Board Certified Chaplain.  He and his family currently reside on Florida's Space Coast. He and his wife have one son at home with them and several children at home with the Lord. He is Reformed in his theology and committed to the verse-by-verse exposition of God's Word. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry Candidate at Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also pursuing certification in biblical counseling. He is in the process of separating from Active Duty with a separation date sometime in 2017. He is leading his family to trust God during this time of transition, reminding them "We walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). The same God that has brought them safe thus far will bring them safely home. "To Him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:36).
http://www.fightforjoy.net/f4j-blog/the-god-who-laughs 




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