WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? TIME FOR STRAIGHT TALK!

Those are the questions you hear the newsmen and the meteorologists ask.

All these horrible tornados. Incredibly powerful! We’ve never seen so many so powerful. And look where they go, at times right into the hearts of cities.

Well….now for the answer.

You will never find it in meteorology books or records. The answer is a spiritual one.

Way back, about four thousand years ago, God told Abraham – the father of the Jewish people and in fact the patriarch of all believing Christians as well – that I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.

He also told Abraham that he was giving him and his descendants all the land from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates River (which we all know is in Iraq).

And he told Abraham this gift was forever. In fact, we know from another scripture that the gifts of God are without repentance. They are forever.

So God gave the Jewish people the land of Israel from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates, a much, much larger piece of land than the current nation of Israel occupies.

But what is the current attitude of the government of the US? Of the man who lives in the White House? You heard it all very recently. Pressure on Israel to give back from the little land it now has --- even to consider going back to the lines before the 1967 war.

The truth is that the US government has been pressing Israel to give up territory for a long time.

One problem – this is not in line with God’s plan for Israel. And remember, those who bless you I will bless and those who curse you I will curse.

Well, get ready for some serious cursing, United States. Serious.

God does not mess around. He is devoutly to be feared. Yes, loved, people like to talk about that. But feared too. His words are true.

It is obvious that the leaders of the US do not know this God truly. They are either absolute unbelievers or just Sunday morning believers. Actually knowing him and believing and understanding the Bible? Hardly.

Maybe there are one or two. I don’t know them all.

By public appearances and actions in Washington, it certainly appears we don’t have believing leaders. They are not aware that what they are doing will incur and is incurring God’s wrath. They just don’t know. Certainly the resident of the White House does not know. And those preachers brought in for prayer breakfasts don’t know either, or they aren’t telling the leaders. The Bible warns against false prophets too.

There have been people who have traced many horrible events in US history to actions the US took that were against God’s plan for Israel. Do you know that? You can even buy books about that. But certainly that is a subject that will not come up on the news programs because - get serious now - the reporters and producers and media in general just don’t get it.

But the US is getting it now, isn’t it? Some serious punishment. And the getting is going to get worse.

Is this all part of the events leading up to the return of Jesus? Probably. But more specifically it is certainly in direct response to the actions of this country through its “leaders” that oppose Israel and the will of God for Israel. That is the wrong side to be on.

Israel is the apple of God’s eye. Do you know that? The Bible says that too.

You may say you do not agree with the views expressed by the US leaders. Well, that is good for you. But you do live here. So you are at risk here. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Pray protection over your family and your home and your neighborhood. And to the extent you can, change the views of the leaders of this country. Or through the democratic process that for now is still operative, change the leaders.

BEING TRUE TO "THE CALL"

Sometimes God calls you to go “this” way. But another way – “that” way – would be more comfortable, more convenient.

Going that way would line up with the expectations of family and friends. It is where they think you are heading, now they see you have been called. It is what they naturally expect. It fits well with the traditions of the church your family attends. It would be logical.

That way seems like what you naturally would want to do. But Jesus has called you to go this way - - - this way is the call. Perhaps less adulation, less praise, less public recognition. Maybe more hardship and less remuneration. Loneliness in human terms. Strange, even to friends and family.

This is the way you have been called, and this is where you know you must go. And as you go this way, they are watching. They see you heading in a strange direction. They do not understand, at least most of them. A few may. And you, you just keep going… this way.


Comment:

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus, if you are going to follow him, then you cannot simply choose an attractive course and action. You have to go where he calls you to go and do what he calls you to do. Otherwise, you are following yourself or the interests of others.