March 2003

BEHOLD THE NEW DAY!

Part Twenty-one

IRAQ ATTACK! (3)

“They are a nation void of counsel,
there is no understanding in them!”

          Any nation that is led by the vain counsel of men, or the misperceived counsel of false gods, is a nation void of counsel! More and more countries are falling under the dark influence of Islam with its false prophet, Mohammed, its false god, Allah, and its religious text, the qur’an, which touts hate and bloody war against all Christians and Jews- yet many Muslims are a peace-loving people! How can this be? A man is what he believes! So it is possible for a Muslim to embrace the parts of the qur’an that promote peace, as they negate the parts that dictate war; as it is possible for nominal Christians to endorse the parts of the Bible that promote war; and deny the parts that preach peace! If a man desires peace in his heart, he is a man of peace; whereas if a man lusts for war in his heart, he is a man of war!
           Before there ever existed a righteous apostle, Paul, there was a self-righteous Pharisee, Saul! His heart was full of ruinous, murderous hate against Christians as he approved the stoning death of Stephen, and set out for Damascus to martyr more believers! Roman rulers did not hinder such killings; since allowing the Jews to maintain their religious traditions helped to keep civic order; and also they provided welcome, population control! Had Saul’s rampage gone unchecked, Christianity might have vanished from the face of the earth- if that were possible. But Divine Wisdom preset the limits of Saul’s mayhem; so when his appointed wrath had run its course, he was overtaken by the LIGHT OF THE WORLD! By this the posterity of Jesus Christ was preserved in the earth and the stony-hearted Saul was converted into the humble, long-suffering apostle, Paul! Carnal men can only see and judge each other by “outward appearances”, while God “sees into our hearts”! He, alone, sees the SUN shining above our dark clouds of humanity! He, alone, knows what limits He has placed on the “evil” intent of our hearts! He, alone, knows the exact hour His “Goodness” shall consume all our evil as it “works all things together for good.” (Ro 8:28) Every mortal man has an alternate “good and evil” nature; and none but God is “only good”!
           One despot in Bible history was Egypt’s Pharaoh who defied Moses when God sent him to effect the release of His people after their enslavement for 430 years;. Scripture repeatedly says, “God hardened his heart” as Moses commanded, “Let My people go!” Despite many plagues, Pharaoh remained adamant in his refusal to surrender Israel to become a free nation! In this regard, he was not unlike Yassir Arafat, Osama ben Laden and Saddam Hussein. These godless ones defy the Will of God- albeit unknowingly; and yet how many God-fearing men does God see, of whom He says “This people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me”! (Mt 15:8) Hear what God said to Moses concerning this Pharaoh of Egypt Ro 9:16-17.

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion! God’s Gift is NOT a question of HUMAN WILL; it does NOT depend on ONE’S OWN WILLINGNESS, nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race; but on GOD’S HAVING MERCY ON HIM! Scripture says to Pharaoh, I raised you up for the very purpose of displaying My Power in you so MY NAME SHALL BE PROCLAIMED THE WHOLE WORLD OVER! Thus, He has Mercy on whomever He wills and hardens- makes stubborn and unyielding the heart of whomever He wills! Then you say to me, so why does He still blame us for sinning? WHO CAN RESIST OR WITHSTAND HIS WILL? Who are you- a mere man- to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Should the thing that is formed say to Him that formed it, Why have you made me this way?Has the Potter no power over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honor; and another for dishonor?Also what if God- although fully intending to show (the awfulness) of His wrath and make known His Power and Authority- has tolerated with much longsuffering, the vessels (objects) of His anger that are fitted for destruction: and what if He likewise purposes to make known and show the wealth of his glory in His vessels of Mercy, which he had prepared beforehand for His glory?!”

God also said to Moses,

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians; and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself! Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My Voice and if you will keep My Covenant, you will be My peculiar treasure above all people; for ALL THE EARTH IS MINE! You will be a kingdom of Priests and a holy nation to Me. Now speak these words to the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:4-6)

[TO BE CONTINUED]