For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10
The truth will eventually come out, but do not think that God does not witness what is happening around the world. He hears the cry of the 19 children that were shot along with two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. This dreadful act has gripped us all since it was broadcast around the world. Last year in Houston alone there was 473 homicides. I saw leaders say that the gun is not a problem. Yes, a gun by itself is not a problem, but humans are a problem when they lose control of their own body and turn towards violent acts. Having grown up just outside Los Angeles in my youth, I am aware of crimes. Having seen my mother carry a gun, but never talked about it, yet I saw the gun on the coffee table as a young child while she was sleeping on the couch. This is not supposed to be an everyday occurrence. I never touched it. The Los Angeles Times reported that in the last 12 months 783 homicide deaths were reported in L.A. County. I don’t have to say more but to say that while Russia is at war in the Ukraine, here in the U.S. we are fighting our own private war with guns.
According to Philip Bump from the Washington Post, he stated that “the United States has consistently higher death tolls from firearms across age groups and consistently higher rates of firearm deaths,” [see Washington Post Online Site]. Have we become America’s gun exceptionalism in the world today? This is a question that will pave the path of many Americans. The real shock is that while baby formula manufacturing has stopped, firearm manufacturing has increased in America. I have heard through the years from those who lived outside of America say, “Americans are obsessed with playing with guns and reenacting the cowboy and Indian playact.” I personally wondered about this but shrugged it off. Maybe too many Americans are shrugging it off, but now the bullet points at all of us. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Lord’s Table and the importance of self-judgement. This is especially important for everybody of Christ in the Church in America. If you are a Christian, you will be judged on your works as a believer before the judgement seat of Christ. There is no glory in having infants grow hungry while carrying a gun for violence.
Do we have the confidence in God to deliver us from all evil? As I listen to the stories about the shooting, I would say yes, for some did pray while the incident was taking place.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.“
Psalms 34:14-17
We must labor for peace and do the good work of the Lord. We must labor for souls to be reconciled to the Lord. This is a great ministry that we as believer’s are a part of. The ministry of reconciliation is now available for all who mourn, for all who need peace, for all who are hurting about the injustice of it all. There is evil in the present world system where greed, selfishness, and ambition are working against peace and creating division on all levels of society. We must not be blinded but awaken to the truth of our walk as a Christian in this world. We must remember that there are those who walk in the vanity of their minds. Those who are “being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness,” [see Ephesians 4:19]. We have seen this with the price gouging of baby formula. May the body of Christ not be among those who work evil. May they know the difference and turn from all evil acts of malice, bitterness, and wrath. Let us all be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Let Christ be formed in our mind and heart.
A Christian’s life is for the service of the Lord. Let us take to heart what Paul said in Romans 12:1-2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2
Have you noticed verse 2, “and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind?” We are to be separate and testify of the Lord as Paul states in Ephesians 4:17. We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God [see 2 Corinthians 7:1]. Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 7:10 in the last part of the verse, “but sorrow of the world worketh death.” We do not have control over every living being, and that is why we are to pray for those who live around us. When we hear of such tragedies, we are to pray for those who are grieving. When there is not enough food to go around to feed infants we are to pray for the mothers and infants. If you know them then stand beside them and help them. Jesus said, if you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” [Matthew 25:40]. We must remember to pray for President Joe Biden, that the Lord would direct him to continue to bring peace here in America and abroad. The apostle Paul instructs us to pray for kings.
I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2
If you have not prayed for your leaders and those in authority lately then now is the time to start to pray. Teach your children to pray as well, for their own wellbeing as well as those around them. The apostle Paul tells us not to be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good [see Romans 12:21]. Our life depends on our prayers and each day we must ask God to deliver us from evil. Let us love without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another, [Romans 12:9-10]. You need not worry because God will judge all things that has transpired upon the earth. Make sure your faith is in Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith [Hebrews 12:2], and not in man. That way we will have life working in us instead of death. In having that same spirit of faith in Jesus, we believe and therefore we speak knowing that he was raised up, and the Lord Jesus will also raise us up, [2 Corinthians 4:13-14]. Let us forever be changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. May you appear before the judgement seat of Christ with a clear conscience. May our walk and talk be that of Christ. Walking in love in the world we live in today.
