Sign of the Times

As I look at various news stories this morning, I am taken aback by the number of headings that have to do with moral decay and the intolerance of the Christian faith.

"Conn. School to Push for Church Graduation" - I hope they win!
"Florida Christian School Fires Teacher Over 'Fornication"" - Good she needed to be fired!
"Child Caught Drinking At MLB Game" - Looks like a doctored video to me
"Reuters Admits Cropping Israeli Ship Raid Photos" - Shows they are liberally biased
"911 Caller: 'I need a Husband'" - Get a life! Stop the booze, you lush!

To top all these off, a retired nuclear scientist now believes that the United States Government has been covering up the existence of UFOs since 1947.  And of course, there is the litany of other news about lying, cheating, stealing, and sexual immorality.

Almost depressing if that is all you read.  I would think we have little to live for if we did not have hope.  Paul told Timothy:

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 (NLT)

With people constantly attacking moral values and trying to keep Christians from praying in the public venues, I wonder sometimes if people have lost all hope, and then I re-read these verses.  These things were foretold a couple of thousand years ago! 

And still there is hope.

Oil is pouring through the Gulf.  And there is still hope.

The ACLU strives to cut away at Christian thought.  And still there is hope.

War wages on.  And there is still hope.

Abortions kill millions of innocent lives.  And there is still hope.

Lindsey Lohan is drunk again.  And there is still hope fore her and us.

Simon Cowell lets a dying little girl sing to him (pretty cool).  There is still hope!

But hope comes at a cost.  Some people do not like paying the cost.  Getting to church is hard enough for them.  I know of a church that just recently held a prayer event and invited everyone in the congregation to join the leadership in the prayer.  Two people out of the hundreds showed up.  Where were the deacons and elders?  Where was the church staff?  They forgot?  They had other things to do?  What is more important than getting on your knees before our GOD?  Oh, you have bad knees.  Sorry, why not prostrate yourself before the mighty hand of God?  I am pretty sure He would not be offended if you just sat down with Him to talk.  Yes, I am on a tirade!  I have held this in for too long.  I refuse to make EXCUSES for lazy Christian faith.  But I will admit I am not perfect.  Jesus, however, said that when two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them.  Maybe that is what is going to have to happen for the church to wake up.

We wonder why the power of God seems to be weak.  God is not weak folks! We are the weak ones and get weaker by the minute every time we lose out on time with God. God's power will not be wasted on Christian who will not take time to be with Him! 

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Our Christian livelihood is not going to get any easier!  Life is fixing to get tougher!  There are some economist that are now predicting the complete crash of the stock market at the beginning of 2011 when all the taxes are once again levied!  Robert Kiyosaki is one of those predicting the possibility.  I am not an economist but can say with some understanding that things do not look good - BUT THERE IS STILL HOPE!

What I am saying is that life is tough, and it takes people with true grit (to steal a movie title).  Being a Christian takes even more grit and that grit is supplied by the Holy Spirit.  We will never make a great statement on this earth until we "fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6).  That means we have to stick together.  We have to pray together.  We have to read the Bible together.  We have to act together for the betterment of our society.  We have to get involved no matter how much it may hurt!  "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

We cannot be afraid in these last days.  Jesus said this:

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.  Matthew 10:21-23 (NIV)

Jesus says to move on!  Those are marching orders.  There is still hope and that hope is the continual spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This has been cathartic.  I needed this vent.  Thanks!