The Bible has plenty to say about everything since God had it written, and He knows all things—past, present, and future. Here are a few thoughts on current events and eternity.
Politics
What motivates people? God’s love is the greatest motivation of all. I’ve seen that around the world. His love in Christ is the international language. When we love others with the Father’s love, they respond like a flower to the sun. But not everyone is motivated by love. Some are moved by pride, ego, and self-promotion.
John 12:4:
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Politics is a word that comes from the Greek polis, meaning a city. It’s how people live together within the “walls” of society. There are worldly kingdoms and spiritual kingdoms. Today Jesus Christ is Lord over all. (Philippians 2:11) Pontius Pilate, a political leader, did not understand true lordship. He couldn’t understand why Jesus wouldn’t use physical means to be set free.
John 18:3:
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Jesus’ kingdom is still not of this world. We are up against spiritual forces in this world that sometimes “show up” in the actions of worldly political leaders. People are either walking by the spirit of God which brings good, or they are walking according to the courses of this world which are ruled by another spirit.
Ephesians 2:2:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 6:12:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [wicked spirits] in high places.
We aren’t wrestling with worldly political powers. There are “rulers” (wicked spirits) who rule earthly rulers. Satan and his fallen angels continue to set up and lead people down their “primrose path” of deceit, hate, and violence. Those are the courses of this world that we are to avoid.
So many people think that Jesus was just a Jewish guru who spoke for a short time and tried to change the political setting of ancient Israel. They see him as a kind and benevolent preacher who tried to help everybody get along. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Luke 12:51:
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.
John 7:43:
So there was a division among the people because of him [Jesus].
John 10:10,19:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
Jesus boldly made known the thief, the Devil and his forces. The adversary only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus offers another kind of movement to be a part of. We can have a more abundant life if we want it. Some won’t—and that’s where the division comes in.
Masks
Living in some states in the recent past and crossing the state line was a sobering experience. The smiles and greetings in one area were replaced with masked encounters and a fear that could be felt. They wore physical masks, but it was clear where they were being led. Although they had the approved “righteous” facial equipment, things weren’t so great on the inside.
Matthew 23:28:
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy [from the Greek word meaning to wear a mask in the theater] and iniquity.
Hypocrisy literally means to wear a mask. We need to stop looking on the outward appearances of others and ask the Father to show us their hearts. Then we can minister to them. So often we know what’s in a person’s heart by what they say or do.
I Timothy 4:2:
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
Today those most political and religious may have a sweet and kind mask to hide their true intent–to spread lies that will further their earthly power, and harm others. Their consciences have been cauterized so that they think they are doing the right thing.
There was a woman who wore a physical mask in order to fool a man who was blind. That seems to be a little “overkill,” but her plan failed. Spiritual men and women can see through the veil of evil, even when the physical “reality” seems otherwise.
I Kings 14:1-7:
At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people.
And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.
And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.
And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.
And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.
Jeroboam’s wife thought she could fool the prophet, Ahijah, with a physical disguise. Sadly, her attempts only brought negative consequences and “heavy tidings.” Because of their idolatry in turning from the true God, Jeroboam and his wife would lose the kingdom, and their son would die (I Kings 14:7-18).
So what are we to do? How can we live above the courses of this world? We can start with God’s pure love.
Romans 12:9:
Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
When we have love that isn’t hypocritical, we will find evil distasteful and hold tightly to the good things of God. We have only one God, our loving Father, and all good things come from Him. We have only one lord, Jesus Christ, and all of God’s goodness comes through him (I Corinthians 8:6).
Sometimes “liberals” get a bad rap. The word originally meant to be a giver, someone who had the freedom (liberality) to help others. But we must be careful about what we receive, depending on who is giving it.
Isaiah 32:5-8:
The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
These are not good things: speaking villainy, hearts that work iniquity, practicing hypocrisy, uttering error against the Lord, making empty the soul of the hungry, and causing the drink of the thirsty to fail. We want to offer the bread of life to others so that they will be filled with living water. Jesus Christ brings both.
Global Warming
Another “hot topic” today is global warming. This is a theory that human activity is causing a significant rise in world temperatures. Well, that is definitely true when we consider the “spiritual temperature” around us. God loved the whole world so much that He gave His Son to “warm it up” and bring everlasting life. Jesus Christ didn’t bring condemnation and worry–he brought life and peace. That’s the kind of global warming we can appreciate.
John 3:16,17:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God originally created our planet (Genesis 1) to sustain human life and bring blessings in the natural realm. There are cycles of heat and cold, wet and dry, day and night. It all has a godly design. How could people think they are so significant as to counter God’s power and majesty?
Ecclesiastes 1:5-7,9:
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits [natural cycles].
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Solomon had a sound perspective on global warming and other natural cycles. There is nothing new under the sun. Those who refuse to acknowledge God’s goodness, or replace Him with an idol of “science,” cannot understand life. Solomon also understood another kind of “global warming” that is significant.
Ecclesiastes 4:11:
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
We can warm each other up, around the globe, with God’s love in Christ. We can share the good news of salvation, minister physical healing, and deliver people from the Devil’s darkness and addictions. People try to warm themselves with the false gods of religion, social improvement, and political activism. But in the end, they’re just wooden and empty. Isaiah told Israel the same thing when they were using the same piece of wood to cook their food and build their statues. They think they are “warmed” by worldly solutions. Yet without God and His Son, life is meaningless.
Isaiah 44:16-18:
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
Let us pray for ourselves and those around us, that we have true understanding. So that we can live together in the true peace that only comes from fellowshiping with the Father and with His Son, our big brother Jesus Christ. Then we will be spiritually (not “politically”) correct, we will show forth God’s unmasked love in Christ, and we can warm the globe with the good news of salvation. Now that’s something to live for!
