December 30
Malachi 1:1-2:17 | PS 149:1-9 | Prov 31:10-24 | Rev 21:1-27
We read in Malachi 2:10, "Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?...". We are exactly who God chose us to be. He gave us our parents. He gave us our looks. Our neighborhood that we grew up in was chosen by Him. Our being born into affluence or poverty was chosen by Him, as was our times societally. Now, we have free will, and will move forward from these beginnings, either towards our Creator or away. A new derogatory term used frequently is "White Privilege". Yes, I was born "white", but no, I was not born privileged, economically. My situation is certainly not unique, yet, one after another, to appear sensitive, or to fall in line with societal expectations, people are tripping over themselves apologizing for how God created them. I refuse to be embarrassed over anything that God chose to create in me. I am white, male, and below average height. This can not be disputed. In the same manner, I refuse to accept any labels tossed in my direction by this morally bankrupt society. I am not privileged, systemically racist, a homophobe or a transphobe. I simply accept what God states as fact according to His inerrant Word. How dare any who are embarrassed as to how God created them? Does God make mistakes? No!
There is no shortage of lists in the Bible of those who do not get to enter eternity with the Father. Many of the sins listed are repetitive but pay close attention to the warning in Revelation 21:6-8, "And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Realize the "cowardly" is not speaking of those naturally timid individuals, but rather those individuals who choose self and safety before Christ. In verse 6, the water of life is given freely to those who thirst. To thirst after Christ is not to follow Him in a religious and dutiful manner, but for Him to be our deepest desire. When we choose to remain quiet, or worse, to bend our knees to things which we never should in order to be socially accepted, when these things clearly go against the things of God, decide for yourself what you think God feels about such a stance.
Are we so blind? History continues to cycle, do we want to continue in it, or do we want to get on board with Christ and move forward in Him? We read in Malachi 1:6, "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name." We must remember to despise God is not to hate Him, but to take Him lightly. This passage goes on to reveal how the priests served God in boredom, in weariness. It is time that we all decide what we stand for and Who we stand in. Simple standard answers to godless stances are simply not acceptable. These responses may give you a pass in society, but God sees everything. We must all decide, if we fear God or if we fear society? Do we desire to please our Creator, or do we want to be liked and popular in society, for the two are often on different sides. As you approach His Word, please do so in humility and positionally to be reformed, changed, brought in line with His guidance for our lives.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: