These words of David from Psalm 12 seem to perfectly reflect our world today:
“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’
“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”
The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
You, O Lord, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this generation forever.
The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”
As we ponder our paths during the distress of our day, His still small voice invites us to stay close by His side. There is wisdom in remaining quiet while our Father moves across the earth.
“Therefore, at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time” (Amos 5:13).
Our quiet calm testifies to the resident Lord above it all.
However, our internal posture of quiet does not forfeit courageous conversations. As a matter of fact, at Bible study yesterday, someone baited me: “I am feeling so afraid to even speak up after what happened to Charlie Kirk.” I responded: “If we don’t speak up against the outright lies of our day, then we, by default, participate in the ‘unfruitful deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11) and are complicit in the condition of our culture. I continued, “We have a mandate to overcome evil with good while there is still time.”
You could hear a pin drop.
God will give us wisdom; when to speak and when to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
The atmosphere of our time feels oppressive to those of us close to the heart of God. While we barely tread in its polluted waters spewing out its waste, the world anticipates two upcoming “celebrations”—Halloween and the Super Bowl. These pagan places of idol-worship offend our Father’s heart. God wants us to be holy and separate from the sin of our culture. When we who claim the Name of Jesus go to the same places unbelievers do to satisfy ourselves, we offer them no Hope. Here is what He says in His Word:
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.”
Ephesians 5:7-17
“Therefore, do not be partakers with them. For you were formerly darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the Lord; walk as children of LIGHT (for the fruit of the LIGHT consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them; for it is disgraceful to even speak of the things they do in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the LIGHT. For everything that becomes visible is light.
For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
1 Cor. 10:23, 31
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify…. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Peter 4:3
“For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the unbelievers, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”
Luke 16:15
“For what is highly esteemed in the eyes of man is an abomination to God.”
2 Cor. 6:17
“’Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,’ says the Lord. ‘AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.’”
Remember, He is with us and that we are almost Home.
The post “Help, Lord, for the Godly Man Ceases to Be” :: By Hilary Hanlon appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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