Friday, January 8, 2021

Our Season Of Discontent




 They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirt of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4: 5 - 6 NKJV 


Most everyone has been witness to the events which occurred in our nations capital this week.  Whatever side of the political fence that you sit on, you need to carefully consider whether you are in support of such anarchy.  Now, these demonstrations claimed to be part of a large movement in support of president Donald Trump, but I feel that that is where the similarities end.  There are also reports that this demonstration was infiltrated by more than a few antifa agitators.  Only a complete investigation will reveal what really happened.  So, how is it that we've come to this point?  Well, from my own personal experience, we heard what we have been wanting to hear for many years.  The election of Donald Trump in 2016 was spurred by his promise to put America and our citizens first before anything else.  These words resonated with a large swath of a nation so accustomed to the empty promises of Washington.  This man was speaking to our hearts.  Whether this was a unique campaign strategy or simply Donald Trump being who he is only he knows.  I am inclined to believe that he was being real and honest with the voters who were listening to his every word.  What I, and a good number of Americans, have lost sight of is that Donald Trump is just a man.  President elect Biden...is simply a man.  Despite all of his self inflating ego, Barack Obama was...just a man.  So, are we to believe that one man can indeed alter the nation and ultimately change history?  Perhaps, but I'd bet that all of those marchers in Washington this week weren't focused on the One who can truly change a mans life.  That being Christ Jesus.  I've listened to president Trump speak, and he says a lot of positive things about our country and his Christian faith.  He does indeed appear to be a man who knows the Lord.  Yet, knowing the Lord is a long way from being the Lord.  Now, I've never accepted Donald trump as a replacement for my heavenly Father, but I've given the words he's spoken a paramount, almost heavenly devotion.  After all, he was saying what I longed to hear our political leaders say.  We do well to remember that it is the Lord who is ultimately in control of everything we will ever experience in our lives.  


For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:  3 - 4 NKJV 


I will say that I don't believe that Donald Trump ever misled his followers with falsehoods.  What I will admit is that those who listened to him speak were so glad to finally hear his words spoken that they forgot that he was indeed...just a man.  I will point out that other men have enthralled crowds with sound words before.  Men like Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and our own pontificator Barack Obama.  The apostle Paul warned his young apprentice Timothy about such things in his letter to him.  Paul advised Timothy that there will be many with "itching ears" who will be turned from the truth {2 Timothy 4:3}.  From the events of this past election season, it seems that we indeed have a nation of people with itching ears.  Believe me, the political candidates of tomorrow are taking notes of how this past year went down.  If they aren't they should.  We have not seen the last of a few men who will speak to what it is that we want to hear simply to gain political office.  What has set Donald Trump apart from these hucksters is that he actually did what he said he was going to do.  That will forever remain a part of his legacy.  The deeper question we must now ask ourselves is...where do we place our trust?  Do we trust in the slick words of any political hack that comes along?  Well, if all we seek is anxiety and disappointment then we can do just that.  For me, I would rather place my trust in the one who gave Himself for me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  I would rather place my trust in knowing that it is Christ Jesus who lives on in me {Galatians 2:20}.  Man can speak to a great many things, and at times his words may seem uplifting for awhile.  However, at the end of the day we do well to remember He in whose image we are all created {Genesis 1:27}.  


But Peter and the other apostles answered and said; "We ought to obey God rather than men." 

Acts 5: 29 NKJV 


~Scott~ 

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