Last month there was a tragic shooting in another school, it was like Deja vu. Fourteen people were wounded and seventeen others were killed.
Within hours chaplains from the Billy Graham evangelistic Association arrived to aid victims of the nightmare. It was the fifth time this year that the rapid response team has been deployed to a crisis.
Ironically, most people believe the church and God are against the world, judgmental conservatives of an age gone by. The truth is the world has always been against God and the saints, some days it’s a fight just to smile.
We see this in the Old Testament, especially when Israel’s exile in Egypt. God’s people were surrounded and wanted to settle there, God sent His prophets to remind them Egypt wasn’t their home and was against them; God was their true shelter (Psalm 18:2). God is who we run to in times of trouble (Psalm 18:10) was the war cry of many believers and then came the Pharisees versus the first century church.
VERSUS?
The dictionary defines versus as, “Against, as compared to or as one of two choices; in contrast to.” For hundreds of years the Jewish were taught the prophecies by the Pharisees. The prophecies like scripture are true; but the Pharisees’ interpretations of them were flawed by sin.
The Jewish believed the Messiah would conquer the world and they would reign. They believed this world would be the Hereafter. Pharisees always want to be in control. They want to be great and powerful here, these are the things the Christ stood against, just sayin’. God doesn’t show favor (Romans 2:11); life doesn’t get easier because we speak the name of Jesus.
Jesus came to show us a better way; it was a revolution, when love came down. But this wrecked their plans to rule the world and money up. Jesus instructed His disciples not use their authority like the rulers of the world (Matthew 20:26). It’s a misconception to think the church gets the best of this world.
He declared His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Later the apostle Paul told the first century church not to conform (Romans 12:2). Each day that passes it becomes obvious that the world is too dangerous to be our final home. As long as we’re on earth we are taking a walk on the wild side—we're outsiders.
When Christ reigns, He will rip it up and start over. Because this world is against us and while we’re here, the church will face many trials. Perhaps this is why Jesus said the road to Heaven is narrow and the road to ruin his wide (Matthew 7: 13).
TRIALS?
Jesus promised in this world we would face many trials (John 16:33). The enemy walks around like a roaring lion and the roar is getting louder (1 Peter 5:8). But, the saints have nothing to fear. We are never alone, love is on our side; He is where we find our Joy for eternity, not just a billion years.
Billy Graham once said, “The Bible says that as long as we are here on earth, we are strangers in a foreign land. There are enemies to be conquered before we return home. This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven.” There the saints will experience the glory of the Lord as one body, one spirit.
Sadly, Mr. Graham passed away before I finished this blog. The Old Testament has a lot say about suffering (Deuteronomy 28, Isaiah 53), because in this life it’s the world versus us.
Within hours chaplains from the Billy Graham evangelistic Association arrived to aid victims of the nightmare. It was the fifth time this year that the rapid response team has been deployed to a crisis.
Ironically, most people believe the church and God are against the world, judgmental conservatives of an age gone by. The truth is the world has always been against God and the saints, some days it’s a fight just to smile.
We see this in the Old Testament, especially when Israel’s exile in Egypt. God’s people were surrounded and wanted to settle there, God sent His prophets to remind them Egypt wasn’t their home and was against them; God was their true shelter (Psalm 18:2). God is who we run to in times of trouble (Psalm 18:10) was the war cry of many believers and then came the Pharisees versus the first century church.
VERSUS?
The dictionary defines versus as, “Against, as compared to or as one of two choices; in contrast to.” For hundreds of years the Jewish were taught the prophecies by the Pharisees. The prophecies like scripture are true; but the Pharisees’ interpretations of them were flawed by sin.
The Jewish believed the Messiah would conquer the world and they would reign. They believed this world would be the Hereafter. Pharisees always want to be in control. They want to be great and powerful here, these are the things the Christ stood against, just sayin’. God doesn’t show favor (Romans 2:11); life doesn’t get easier because we speak the name of Jesus.
Jesus came to show us a better way; it was a revolution, when love came down. But this wrecked their plans to rule the world and money up. Jesus instructed His disciples not use their authority like the rulers of the world (Matthew 20:26). It’s a misconception to think the church gets the best of this world.
He declared His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Later the apostle Paul told the first century church not to conform (Romans 12:2). Each day that passes it becomes obvious that the world is too dangerous to be our final home. As long as we’re on earth we are taking a walk on the wild side—we're outsiders.
When Christ reigns, He will rip it up and start over. Because this world is against us and while we’re here, the church will face many trials. Perhaps this is why Jesus said the road to Heaven is narrow and the road to ruin his wide (Matthew 7: 13).
TRIALS?
Jesus promised in this world we would face many trials (John 16:33). The enemy walks around like a roaring lion and the roar is getting louder (1 Peter 5:8). But, the saints have nothing to fear. We are never alone, love is on our side; He is where we find our Joy for eternity, not just a billion years.
Billy Graham once said, “The Bible says that as long as we are here on earth, we are strangers in a foreign land. There are enemies to be conquered before we return home. This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven.” There the saints will experience the glory of the Lord as one body, one spirit.
Sadly, Mr. Graham passed away before I finished this blog. The Old Testament has a lot say about suffering (Deuteronomy 28, Isaiah 53), because in this life it’s the world versus us.
