Zoned Way Out
This devotion has nothing to do with horses. It
is in answer to the many phone calls and e-mails that came in this week in
regards to the events of September 11th. The events have caused much
confusion, much fear and many questions.
I am going to cut right through to the chase -
as this is not a time to mince words. I pray like the apostle Paul...that I
may boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and that God may give me the
right words to say. (Ephesians 6:19)
When adversity strikes, we are introduced to
ourselves. We see who we are and where we stand and what we stand upon. We
human beings are made up of several parts. We are doing beings, living
beings and human beings. But at the very core of each of us is a
worshipping being. We were created to worship God. Our very existence was
created to worship and fellowship with God. When we have not been
reconciled to God, the worshipping part of us is hollow and empty. Sin
reigns in our lives instead of God ruling and reigning. We are in a fallen
state. But, when we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts and start to renew
our minds and fellowship with God and other Christians, we are reconciled
and begin a new life walking with Jesus Christ.
When adversity and tragedy strikes and we are
moved out of our comfort zone (see devotion # 16) then we have an
opportunity to see ourselves as we really are. Adversity causes some to
break down and others to break records. It causes us to look inside and
examine our innermost motives. Many have realized this week that the
worshipping part of their being has been non-existent or seriously
neglected. May these events trigger a revival in each of us.
Many of you who have contacted me are
unchurched. By this I mean that you have no steady church that you attend.
You have no pastor that is appointed and anointed of God to care for you. A
pastor is compared to a shepherd in the Bible. A true, loving shepherd
cares for the sheep each day and leads them into safety each night. The
sheep know his voice and follow him. There are sheep who do not know how to
become a part of the flock and sheep who know where the flock is, but choose
not to join them. You need to honestly identify where you are and
immediately become a part of a salvation preaching, bible teaching Church
body. That is the first step. If you have wandered out of the flock, you
need to find your way back by repenting and coming back. If you are part of
the flock, but chose to continue in a besetting sin, it is time for you to
repent and get your life right with God.
We live in a nation that was founded upon
Christian principles. God had a protective hand upon our nation from the
very start. I pray that he has not lifted his protection from us because
of the sins of the people. We cannot continue to live in sin, kill babies,
take God out of the schools, worship our business more than Him, leave Him
out of our lives because we are so busy, etc. This is spitting in the face
of God. If we do that, how can we expect Him to continue to protect us as a
nation? We need to turn back to Him individually and corporately. 2
Chronicles 7:14 If my people will humble themselves and pray, and
search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven
and forgive their sins and heal their land.
The prophets of God have warned us time and time
again that this was coming because America has gotten into seeking psychics,
pornography, abortions, and so many evil and sinful works. God will not be
mocked. We will reap what we sow. David Wilkerson who is the pastor of
Times Square Church a few blocks from the disaster has warned us in his
newsletters that terrorists would start to come against America and that he
had a vision of people in New York running down the streets in terror. You
can receive his newsletters by e-mailing:
texas@worldchallenge.org and
requesting it. We must search scriptures and listen to Godly people whom
God has appointed to be watchman over our souls. In my Daily Walk Bible the
reading for September 11 was Amos 8-9. Take time to read it today. Sin
must be judged, but a righteous God is waiting and willing to restore His
people.
We must sharpen our discernment. The bible
tells us that we can become strong by exercising our senses to discern both
evil and good. (Hebrews 5:14) Start today and ask the Holy Spirit to
sharpen your discernment and help you to clearly hear His voice. He is the
only one that knows what lies ahead for each of us.
The bottom line is trusting Christ. I cannot
imagine the horror of being in an airplane that flies into a building. I
cannot imagine being in those building when the planes hit. Nor can I
imagine the grief of a missing loved one under all that rubble. But, this I
know, those who had trusted Christ went straight into His presence. (2
Corinthians. 5:8) Those who have trusted Christ were covered with His
grace. They have gone to a place that I cannot imagine because the bible
tells me that eye has never seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the
imagination of man the things which God has prepared for them that love
Him. (1 Corinthians. 2:9)
What about Osama Bin Laden? If he is guilty of
masterminding the attacks, I pray 2 Timothy 4:14 for him - that God will
reward him according to his deeds. Remember that we are racing toward a
judgment day when all will be brought to light and everything that has been
done will be judged and made right.
It is a time to ready ourselves for what the
Bible says lies ahead. It warns us that in the end times we will hear of
wars and rumors of wars. We will see famines, deceptions, false christs,
earthquakes, diseases, etc. It tells us that this is not the end, but the
beginning of many sorrows.
God has given America a president who proclaims
the name of Jesus Christ. May we all commit to pray for him each day. May
we also pray for ourselves and each other to take a step beyond prayer. It
is not enough just to pray. We must obey.