"When people go their own way ..."

Watching people imagine they are "free," when in reality they are in slavery to their own sinful, foolish, rebellious nature, is painful.  Having lived in the United States all my life and having experienced the many freedoms we enjoy ... freedoms that have been paid for by the blood of many and given to us by the grace of God ... I hate what is happening in our nation as people reject and ignore the truth God reveals in His Word and have nothing with which to replace it but their own ignorance and self-centered thinking.

The prophet, Jeremiah wrote the following during a time when God was bringing His severe judgment on the nation of Judah ...

"Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.'  But they said, 'We will NOT walk in it!' I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'  But they said, 'We will NOT pay attention.'  Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.  Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.'"  (Jeremiah 6:16-19).

There is just no way around the fact that the sovereign God of the universe IS judging and MUST judge the United States of America.  In one sense it is a helpless feeling to sit back and watch as the Word of God and His righteous laws are rejected, even by many in the church in these days, yet it is also a call to stand firm on God's truth and to continue to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, pointing people to Jesus Christ.  This is the only place to find hope as you live in this world every day.

It would be far easier to "give up," to "throw in the towel," to let people go their own way ... but those of us who know God's grace in Jesus Christ understand that He has revealed His mercy and grace to us so that we may be His instruments to call others to Himself before the final judgment comes.  The "sound of the trumpet" was used to call people to worship and also to call the army to battle.  When the people of God gather together the trumpet must be sounded and those who have been given ears to hear will pay attention while the others will continue to go their own way. 

Are YOU listening?  Are you searching for the "ancient path," the good way, the only way to draw near to God ... through faith in Jesus Christ?  FAITH, for the true believer, is an action word!  Faith believes and faith motivates us to serve in the army of our King, Jesus Christ!!  The trumpet is being sounded!  We are engaged in the battle and we know victory will be ours.  We WILL overcome and Jesus  will reign over all the earth.  Let this be your hope today as you walk the narrow road that leads to life!!

As we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another, I am compelled from within to begin, as much as possible, to post a daily blog in order to do one thing: to proclaim the kingdom of Jesus Christ! Here at Lighthouse Community Church we have a mission statement that declares the following: "We exist to proclaim the reign of Jesus Christ over all things; glorifying and enjoying God, now and forever." I begin here because in our current circumstances it has become obvious that most people do not believe this and that even many of those within the visible church do not understand the implications of this statement. We read in Philippians 2:9-11 that there will come a time when "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." As one who by God's grace believes Jesus Christ IS Lord, it is my privilege to acknowledge this NOW, willingly and joyfully. And in doing so I proclaim my belief that there is no authority in heaven or on the earth that is higher than HIS authority. That means, in our current circumstances, what it has always meant, that all human authority is UNDER the authority of Almighty God and now of His "Anointed One," the Messiah, the Christ, the KING over all the earth, Jesus!! Therefore, I and all true believers, enlightened and empowered by the very Spirit of Christ, are commanded to proclaim His Lordship and to stand firm against those who would seek to usurp (to steal) His authority for their own purposes. Someone called our church this morning and asked if we were open. YES! Then they asked if we were requiring masks. NO! You may wear one if you decide you want to wear one, but we will not require them. Then they asked if we were singing. How sad is it that anyone would have to ask if the church, God's people gathered together to worship the KING, is singing!!! YES!! We are singing His praises!! What has happened in the past ten months is that the enemy of Christ and His Body has used government to silence the church and to bring Christians into submission to the authority of man ... for our safety and for our good, of course. But this is a lie! People are dying without loved ones at their side, people are living without being able to see their loved ones, whether in nursing homes or shut in their own homes. People are losing their businesses and eventually their homes because they are commanded not to work or they will be fined or even imprisoned. The list goes on, and where it stops is complete reliance on the government for "salvation," for deliverance from this "plague" called "COVID." Now we are told that we must continue to wear a mask, maintain social distance and restrict our movement even after a vaccination, for a year ... or two ... or ... JESUS IS LORD!! We are being told that loving our neighbor, respecting our neighbor, caring about our neighbor requires wearing a mask and standing six feet apart and staying home as much as possible and not traveling and not getting together with family. My friends, this is HATE, not love, as our neighbors grow weary and depressed and anxious and fearful and live without hope because they do not hear us proclaiming the kingdom of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not begin or end with "God loves you," it begins with "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" And it ends with, "JESUS IS LORD ... over EVERYTHING!" When the Governor of a state, or anyone else, restricts in any way your devotion to Christ or your obedience to Christ and tells you what you MUST do, even if it becomes a law, you must declare, "Jesus Christ is Lord!" God tells us that HE has created human government as HIS servant, to execute justice. Period. All human government is UNDER the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Those in the church SHOULD know this, but most do not seem to understand it, believing instead (because this is what they have been taught) that we are supposed to "turn the other cheek" and blindly obey the authority of the government that GOD has placed OVER us. "We exist to proclaim the reign of Jesus Christ over EVERYTHING!" I will be sharing more about this and other truths from God's Word in the coming days and weeks, Lord willing. In the meantime, I have completed my second book, entitled simply, " ... the end." In it is God's Word, quoted on virtually every page, brining together the Scriptures that point to the events leading up to and surrounding the return of Jesus Christ. If you would like to receive a copy, along with a study guide, email me at pastorsteve@lighthouse-ministries.org. The cost is $15 for one book and $10 for a Study Guide. Shipping in the U.S. is $5.00. If you are anywhere else in the world, the cost is $25 for both plus shipping. You may pay online through our website at lighthouse-ministries.org. Just send me your address. The days ahead will bring many opportunities to testify to the truth. Be sure you know and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord ... over EVERYTHING!!!