Musings For A Saturday Morning

I work at the largest High School in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The Martinsburg Bulldogs are the state champions in football and basketball. We played a game from Virginia last evening and I was there for the last ten minutes of the game, on the field which is directly across the parking lot from the High School.


I stood and watched the crowd pass by. It was a parade of Americans wearing their feelings and attitudes openly for all to see. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles 16 that the gods of the people are idols; but the LORD made the heavens. Last evening was almost a full moon. I was pointing out into the sky to some coworkers that the planet Jupiter was visible and had they noticed it as it moved across the sky. Wednesday evening it was very close to the moon; Thursday it had moved quite a bit and last night it was some distance; but still shining brightly.


I looked up several times, then I looked back into the crowd of thousands of people and listened to the passing conversations and general attitude of the crowd. Not one person even glanced up to see the heavenly calm as the crowd yelled and shouted. The Bible says that the sun and moon are a witness of what happens on planet earth. Silently these heavenly bodies looked upon the thousands of people cursing, strutting half dressed, gesturing and yelling at the opposing team. Six police officers, all huddled together talked among themselves as they also watched the crowd.


There were many gods on display last evening. The god of lust and violence was making his self evident. The god of wealth was there as 50,000 dollar SUV's drove slowly by through the parking facility with the boom box thumping. Yet there was another segment of the crowd that was evident to those with eyes to see; a very small minority that sat quietly enjoying the game, with their small children wearing the Martinsburg colors and WVU gear. They spoke quietly and smiled, talked and patted each other on the head as they spoke.


I "ran across" a verse in reading this morning that confirmed what I was thinking. God reassured His children that the Land of Canaan is our inheritance. Although the heathen gods seem to rule, His word stands firm. God says in 1 CHRONICLES 16:19 that even though we are but a few, even a few, and strangers for the time being, and when we go from nation to nation, kingdom to kingdom, He will suffer no man to do us wrong. People are reproved for our sakes by Him. He says, "Touch not My anointed and do My prophets no harm..."


I am not a prophet, I do not think myself anointed; but He is no respecter of persons and what He does for one of His own He will do for all. No matter how out of control things seem to be or become, no matter the power of the gods of this world rant and rage and try to produce fear, there is One in the heavens who is in total control. The gods of this world are on their last parade; they will give it all that they have. But rest assured, He who sits in the heavens laughs! He is our Father. We are His children. His hand is upon us and as the be prepared for the grand finally, it is going to get exciting for those who KNOW THEIR GOD.


Daniel says in his writings of the end of times that the world would continue to spin out of control but that there would be a people who would be wise and understand the times. Like the children of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what they were to do (1 Chronicles 12:32), we are to be confident in our God. Issachar received a blessing and a prophecy from Moses before he died that was fulfilled throughout their recorded history ~


" ...rejoice Issachar in thy tents (dwelling place). They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices in righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand." (Deuteronomy 33:18,19)


In the midst of great turmoil as we mingle with society under the influence of the god of this world, we are to walk according to what God has said of His chosen; His children. We are not to fear, cower or be intimidated. Deuteronomy gives a good picture for us; how we must operate while here as His representatives. Remember that Christ said He does not desire for us to be removed from the earth as yet; we are here for a purpose. To fulfil and live out His purposes as lights shining amidst the darkness. We must remain confident and fully convinced that this is our past, present and future ~


We live in a society void of counsel, there is no understanding in them. O that they were wise and understood and perhaps they would consider their latter end! We can chase a thousand and two will put ten thousand to flight. Our rock has not nor will He ever fail us or sell us or shut us out.


The vine, the produce is as the vine of Sodom and their fields are as Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall and the clusters are bitter. The wine is the poison of dragons and cruel venom of asps. God has said that this is stored up with Him, among His treasures. We are to be His witnesses in the midst of a dark and perverse generation. Do not fret! Vengeance is His, and recompense. For the day of their calamity is at hand and their things will come upon them unexpectedly. (Deuteronomy 32)


The LORD will judge His people. Judgment for those who do not lose heart, who have an understanding of the times in which they live will be a good day!


Keep the faith! Know who our God is; for those who are in great darkness seeking the light they see in us; to those the Holy Spirit sends across our path, be ready to explain this great hope that we have living in and walking with us.