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BURN IT DOWN
Would you have snickered as Sodom and Gomorrah smoldered? That’s a tough question to answer honestly – I mean honestly answered, and not the façade we present to ensure the social media gods (very little “g”) see us in a favorable light. I mean really, they were given the choice to get their act together or face utter destruction if they choose to continue living in the evil darkness of debauchery and sin. They kinda got what they asked for, right?
GET WHAT THEY DESERVE
Just to make us feel better about finding a slice of joy at their peril, Abraham tried his best to negotiate a plea deal on behalf of them sinners. Would God spare all if there were only 50 righteous people? Okay, how about 45? He kept pressing his luck as he bartered God down to 35 and 30 and 20 and finally 10 (Genesis 18:16-33). There had to be at least 10 good Christian folks around, right? FYI – Lot was the only one. Yep, 9 less than the agreed upon 10. So maybe it was best to burn it all down, right?
I’ll confess that my heart is conflicted between praying for the Portland area versus idly watching as they suffer the consequences of their Godless actions. Afterall, God does give us options back in Deuteronomy 28 & 29. It’s called decisions and consequences. Read it – He’s not kidding around. Friends in the area say it’s like a 3rd world post-apocalyptic dung heap (their words). A once jewel city ravaged and raped of her glorious appeal.
GOD ON THE MOVE
Then I watch videos of community prayer, praise and worship and marvel at what God is actually doing in places like Portland and you know He is still moving in the lives of people with hearts willing to receive Him. Our natural inclination is to grow weary with malcontents and turn them over to their tormentors. Isn’t it wonderful that while God waited for you to stop living a life of willful disobedience and sin that He didn’t turn His back on you?
Although haters might’ve snickered at your second divorce or first bankruptcy or even the third job you lost following your umpteenth bad relationship, never once did God hurl a smoldering fireball of sulfur and stone your way. Instead, He sent His son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn you but to give you the gift of eternal life.
COVO CHAOS
You know what else reminds me of Portland? Yep, the way people are behaving about covid, masks and shots. Have you set out your lawn chair and planted your flag of self-righteousness atop a hill called Vaccinated or atop the other hill called Unvacinated?
Are you enjoying those precious souls crushed by the consequences of their dumb decisions? Is your sly smile a result because they’re finally getting what they deserve because they refused to comply with your latest social media post. The only thing all of us truly “deserve” is death. Why? Because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. And, because we all sin, the wages of those sins are what? Death.
So, yep, no matter how high your hill or iron-pressed flag; you, me, and everyone from Sodom to Portland deserve the very same thing. The good news is, (that’s what the Gospel means) we are not condemned to die in our sin because God doesn’t turn His back on the people of Portland or the vaccinated or the unvaccinated or the maskless second graders nervously starting a new school year. He doesn’t even turn His back on republicans, democrats, liberals, or conservatives.
THE UNFORGIVEN
Well, you know who God does turn His back on? People who blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Yeah, that’s the one unforgivable sin. God says it right there in His letter to you – Matthew 12:31-32.
Maybe it’s a great time to understand that if you claim to believe in God, then the Holy Spirit actually, tangibly and supernaturally lives within you (that’s in the Bible too), and if your cheering on sulfur stones and helping casts them across from your hill atop the other, then you might be inching your eternal address toward a destiny of what the Bible calls gnashing of teeth – WOW, that sounds painful for an eternity.
Whether its radical social justice extremists, people who wear masks while driving alone or folks unfamiliar with the Chick-fil-A menu when it’s their turn to order, God, not the CDC, gives guidance how to deal with each other. It’s found in Matthew 5:43-44, and I promise it’s easier to understand than the latest infrastructure package but sometimes harder to apply in daily life.
This came straight from Jesus. You know the one you have hanging on that cross around your neck and over your kitchen door. Also, for what it’s worth, He’s no longer hanging on that cross. He’s risen and alive!!!
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” ~ Matthew 5:43-44
ASK AND OPEN YOUR EYES
God is doing a mighty work in this season of your life. It may not seem like it, but if you’ll make the time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you; He will.
I love 2 Kings 6:15-18 that tells a great story of someone fearful because he thought they were being overwhelmed by evil forces. A man of God prayed the prayer you should pray today and when he did, God revealed that the enemy’s army was actually surrounded by the Army of God. In the words of Elisha, I offer you the same blessed assurance, “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Be Different,
Scott
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PRAYING FOR YOU
There is freedom waiting for you on the other side of tough times. I’m praying that you begin to identify the blessings in your life and focus on them until you breakthrough into a new, anointed light. PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out to me if you need someone to walk through the process with you.
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Blessings and Honor,
Scott
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Categories: Dr. Scott Silverii
I do pray for the new progressives who get what they vote for, but generally that they don’t move to my neighborhood (or state) when they flee what they created. Portland is a fantastic example. Seattle is another good one. Isn’t that the new progressive way, though? Government would be good if the right people ran it. Problem is, the right people don’t want the job. And therein lies the rub.
That said, I think today’s problems don’t stem from disagreements in what is good as much as they do about prejudice. You and I could sit down to a breakfast and a pot of coffee and fix the world’s problems in ten minutes from a right/left perspective (I remember you’re one of the few good old Democrats left). We can’t as politicians, though, because politicians WANT that discord, distrust, and ignorance. They need us angry and fighting mad. They call it energizing the base. And both sides sink to that disgusting level… and that’s exactly why the right people to run everything don’t want the job to begin with.
Great post as usual, Scott.
Thank you so much for sharing this. As always, or at least 99.98% you have nailed it.
Scott