August 17
Ezekiel 5:1-9:11
Afghanistan did not fall. It was handed back to the Taliban. Planes within the base filled with military age Afghani men were flown back to our nation, and are now here. The weapons there were not destroyed but were left for the use of the Taliban and our other enemies. Though there are many impoverished and desperate people crossing our borders, mixed with them are many of our nation's enemies. Our porous borders are not an accident, but the millions who have crossed are now spread throughout our nation. Like the Trojan Horse of old, there is no need for our nation's destruction to come externally, sadly, we are literally flooded internally by those who seek our demise. But worse than that, America is not what America was. We have become a sea of godlessness. We not only sin, but parade it through the streets. There is no shame, in fact, what is deemed sin from God's standpoint is judged by the godless who actually believe they have the moral high ground. Stop for a moment and look around. Look at the media. Look at our college campuses. It is pervasive. The only hope our nation has is wide scale revival. But sadly, God is the furthest thing from the minds and hearts of the majority. So, brazen, proud, and godless we stand; and those who seek to destroy America are now everywhere within our nation. Please, tell me, how do you think this story ends.
As we read the prophets, we should see the sins which were called out and the judgments which came as a result, then reflect for a moment on whether or not our nation is guilty of the same. In Ezekiel 8, the prophet is given a tour of the various aspects of the godlessness infesting the people of Judah. This was practiced by the common people, the leaders, and the most "religious". Are we different here? In Ezekiel 7 God's judgment on the nation of Judah, in all of its carnage is spelled out in advance. Does our nation deserve any less? In Ezekiel 9, we see a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, as He designates a remnant who are dedicated to God, as we read 9:4, "and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”" This "mark" is the Hebrew letter "tav", which in the times when this was written was written in the form of a cross.
So, what do we do in our present circumstances? Nations will rise and fall according to God's timetable. But we need to be about building the remnant. Obedient with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, and armed with the simple gospel message and our testimony, we seek to invite others to take the "mark". Now we read in 2 Timothy 3:12, " Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." It does not mean that this remnant will be spared the consequences of earthly judgment, and it certainly does not mean that any of us will be respected for our stance. We read in 2 Timothy 3:1-2, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,". Yes, we are in these times. We, in God, must get out of our stupor, move beyond the four walls of the safety of our churches and step out in boldness to a world who is on the brink of judgment. Isn't that what love is?
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: