Resource

Going Forward in a World Going Backward

Posted on

Now that the fateful election is behind us, the pandemic is still with us and surging, the economy is seriously lagging with little promise of any imminent relief, with people everywhere still hunkering down in fear and suffocating in social isolation (at last count Olsie and I alone have 11 extended family members recovering from COVID), with the ugly specter of aggressive socialism unleashed on a deaf and dumb nation, along with militant atheism breathing down our necks, with sexual anarchy accelerating all over the place, with the abortion industry ratcheting up its slaughterhouses with devilish delight, with unsettling civil unrest percolating on all fronts, (and the prospect of more sleepless nights perhaps in the offing), one asks:

How are we believers to cope with this bizarre (and demonic) new world that 2020 dumped so unceremoniously on us?

As a country I suspect we have gotten a bitter foretaste of what we have been asking for. I personally fear that the worst is yet to come. (My wife reminds me, “Jimmy, you are a Jeremiah.” I quite agree and unapologetically own his temperament.) So, let’s get real.

A great throng of us sense that 2020 marks an unhappy departure, a great divide in our nation’s history from which there is likely no coming back. There is a sinking feeling that we as a nation have suddenly left the Old World behind, and are now adrift, utterly oarless like lost mariners on violent waves of stormy high seas, aboard a leaky ship of state with nothing but besotted pilots in the wheelhouse, and drifting and driven further and further into some dark, uncharted direction. We sense that where we are headed, wherever it is, a totally different and undesirable shore.

In retrospect many of us at least have seen all too clearly how in His providence our Sovereign God set up the outcomes we have seen ominously taking shape. Its evolution has been kind of stunning actually; only the rapidity has surprised. We have marveled at the human assistance and incredible blindness of those (including a host of professing Christians), who, blundering along, have played naÏve handmaids to Satan, failing to see their complicitly in the sinister shape things have taken, the full impact of which we can’t even begin to reckon at the present time.

So, it is what it is.

As believers, what is, is what we must come to grips with, not the world as it used to be or still wish it would be.

How do we deal with a country gone mad ‘guided’ obvious mental cases at the helm egged on by their supremely foolish counselors who are giving every sign that they are going to take our country in directions that will surely destroy any residue of good that remains in it? They show every promise of ‘rescuing’ utter defeat from any thin prospect of moral victory. (“Amen and awoman,” anybody? Oh boy. Did any of you ever imagine in your lifetime that you would hear such utter nonsense from anyone but a drunk or deranged congressman?)

Here are my thoughts about going forward:

  • Let us remember that our Sovereign God is in control of all matters in Heaven above and on earth below. God never slips on a banana peel. He is firmly in charge of human history and all the little piss ants who think they are.
  • Let us remember that His control of history does not mean He is directing its course into channels we would prefer. God is a gracious God, but He is also a holy God. He will not continuously permit humans who forget Him to disregard His law and trample on His will a minute beyond His self-imposed limits. When the time is right, He will speak for Himself. Eventually, bills come due. His patience has its limits. In His time God will send people a message. It is His habit to start His messaging with His unfaithful family. I suspect that is happening. Our churches could use a good housecleaning.
  • Let us remember that in ordering His world, God makes no mistakes. There is never an “Oops! In what He ordains. He gets it right the first time and the last. ‘Right’ may be a fright from our perspective, but whatever God wants is what is wisest in the big scheme of things.
  • Let remember that when God sets in motion His interim retributions for the wicked, His corollary purpose is to refine His saints. These judicial strokes are not intended to beat up the righteous but to simultaneously stir us up and to shape us up.
  • Let us remember that in the end God causes all things to work together (pain and pleasure, good and evil, heavy and light) for the (spiritual) good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.
  • Let us remember that the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory God has in store for us.
  • Let us remember this world is not our home, but Heaven is our destiny. Our reward is not here, but there with Christ. Forget that ‘your best life now’ nonsense.
  • Let us remember that the things this hostile world may throw at us, while He may allow them to injure us, can never in the end harm us. God loves His own and in all the chaos is always looking out for us in the end.
  • Let us remember that we are not here to save America, to redeem its founding ideals from those who do not share them, to rescue our traditional culture from those determined to overthrow it, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever in all things.
  • Let us remember not to pitch our tents on the right or the left, but to drive our stakes firmly in the kingdom where Christ rules. Belong to no person or party but Christ. Align with His interests, His law and His will and shun any alliance that may cause us to deviate.
  • Let us remember not to get caught up in fear of or anger over subversive forces or influences in such a way as to go to battle with them in the armaments of the flesh. Let us resist the world only the weapons of light (i.e., joyfully keeping His commandments and walking in an indomitable faith in Christ and in our ultimate triumph in Him). Let us refuse to let our passion for the truth and the glory of God get us sidetracked into actions and agendas of those who prefer to do combat with arms of men rather than the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  • Let us remember that in the end we win, we win big, and in the interim, we have the grace and help of the Spirit of God to sustain us. In Christ He gives us everything necessary for life and godliness.
  • Let us remember to prepare our minds by investing more time in prayer and in the Word than sulking and seething at the latest flush of bad news from the media toilet.
  • Let us remember our mission as well as our manners. We are not here to stir the political pot or to vent our rage against the secular Machine but left here by Christ to damn the devil’s torpedoes and make disciples for Christ.
  • Finally, in pursuit of that project, let us abandon grandiose ideas of taking over the wheels of the culture that invariably corrupt those who seek influence and power. Let us leave the big picture to God and concentrate simply on what James Davidson Hunter calls “being a faithful presence” in this God-forsaken climate. Let us focus on just being salt and light in a dark and perverse world, headed, as always, straight to Hell in the devil’s handbasket.

That’s my pastoral advice for going forward. It is biblical to the bone. Follow that track and all will be well in the end.

Jim Andrews
Senior Pastor

So, What’s the Good News?

Posted on
  • The good news is that there is an eternal God above who created the world below and beyond, all that is or ever will be.
  • The good news is God is still on His throne even as the nation is in an uproar, as its puny people devise vain things, the puppets of the Enemy take their stand, and take counsel together against the Lord and His anointed, our God who sits in the heaven laughs and scoffs at them.
  • The good news is despite any appearances or ambitions to the contrary, our sovereign God rules and overrules all principalities and powers, visible and invisible, and in His day will always have His way and the last say.
  • The good news is that even when to the human eye all seems out of control, our Almighty God orchestrates all things and manipulates evil men so that in the end everything on earth works out according to His will and pleasure in Heaven.
  • The good news is the evil intruders into His perfect creation, Sin and Death, God has defeated at the Cross by His amazing grace through faith alone for all those of every tongue, tribe, race or nation who renounce their sins and their own works and trust in the saving merits of Christ alone.
  • The good news is that by God’s grace we enjoy eternal security in our hope of salvation, even if our temporal security bursts or is on the bubble.
  • The good news is that God can and will richly replace in His eternal kingdom anything of value this world might have taken from His people, life or liberty.
  • The good news is that eye has not seen nor has ear heard nor has ever entered into the mind of man the immeasurable assets that God has stored up for us when Christ returns.
  • The good news is that, unlike people of the world, God has given those in Christ the hope of the resurrection, a future without end and meanwhile in the present, life and that more abundantly.
  • The good news is that God in His revelation has given us the benefit of infallible instruction, direction and correction in this present darkness as well as an unerring compass to guide us in and through the incessant moral distortion and confusion of our day.
  • The good news is that God in His word unveils the secrets of life as it is as well as how to avoid chasing deceitful rainbows, expending and wasting ourselves in search of the mythical life the godless want it to be, but never find it.
  • The good news is that God teaches us in Christ the timely paradox that those who give their lives for Him always save it and those who save it for themselves always lose it.
  • The good news is that God in Christ, despite the riot and rumble of life about us, imparts to us a peace that passes understanding, a peace that can survive and even thrive and not be shattered even when we are beaten and battered.
  • The good news is that God in Christ has shown us that we who have little with Him are vastly richer than those who have much without Him.
  • The good news is that God has shown us that the measure of the good life does not reside in the abundance of material things one possesses or in the worldly goals that one has achieved but in the measure of the knowledge and joy of the Lord in the faithful heart.
  • The good news is that God in Christ has taught us the crucial difference between victories in this life and victory over this life—over the world, the flesh and the devil.
  • The good news is that God sustains us by the assurance that even if this world should hurt us, it cannot harm us in the end.
  • The good news is that even if life may ‘eat our lunch,’ God’s plan still causes all things to work together for the eternal good of those who know Him and are called according to His purpose.
  • The good news is that God’s plan for us is such that all the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that God has in store for us in Christ.
  • The good news is that God holds our soul in such security in Christ that no matter how many things may come against us or in His providential allowance may take a piece of us, no one or nothing can strip us from our Father’s safe hand.
  • The good news is that if at times we feel insufficient to cope with all that surrounds us or hounds us, our God through His Spirit gives us everything necessary for life and godliness.
  • The good news is that however sorely the Adversary may attack or tempt us, God assures us that He will suffer no temptation to assail us that is not common to man or allow any so heavy or intense that we cannot bear it or must surrender to it.
  • The good news is that if ever our God seems far away, and that will happen, we have His firm promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, for even when He is unseen, He is present.
  • The good news is that however far we may feel from God, He is never far from us in Christ, that He is always faithful to His promises and remains in His character the same yesterday, today and forever.
  • The good news is that our God is always for us, only against our sins. His desire is to change us, never crush us, but will, like a wise and good parent, do whatever is necessary to bring His best out of us and manifest His character in us.

“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young may stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:29-31

“Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light?” Matthew 11:28-30

With all that, what is there to complain or grumble about? This world is going to Hell in a handbasket, as the saying goes. God’s plan and purpose have neither failed or faltered. His work will prevail. Man’s opposition will never avail. God is still in charge and will do His thing on time and on the dime.

Wait on the Lord and be faithful! The good news is far greater than the bad news.

Jim Andrews
Senior Pastor

Resources

Posted on

A list of select articles and videos for further research.

Heresy in the Modern Church

Articles

Exposing Joyce Meyer’s False Teaching-Identity Theft

A video exposing the false teachings of Joyce Meyer by Chris Rosebrough.

The Devilish Puppet Master of the Word-Faith Movement

Justin Peters presentation at Strange Fire 2013 discussing the health and wealth or prosperity gospel.

Justin Peters Programs

This video with guest and Brannon Howse is available only by signing up (a one month minimum membership is $8.99) at www.worldviewweekend.com/today. We suggest signing up by paying before trying to access the direct link for the video.

A second excellent video resource with Justin Peters with guest, Costi Hinn, on the Justin Peters radio program also requires paid access.

Beth Moore Calls for Unity With False Teacher Joyce Meyer

The full one-hour program is excellent, but requires the membership at www.worldviewweekend.com/today mentioned above. The half hour video is available on YouTube.