How Do You Live?

 

The prudent see trouble coming and take refuge, while the simple keep going and suffer. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, for our life is like a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes away; so we ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will go somewhere and do something.”

 

It is God’s will that we be conformed to the image of Christ. Christ suffered for us and set an example for us to follow, and we sometimes suffer according to God’s will; for Jesus is our Master and a servant is not greater than the master, so just as Jesus suffered persecution so will we.

 

We are sojourners and pilgrims in this world, and like Christ we sometimes have nowhere to lay our heads, because our citizenship is in Heaven. Blessed are we who believe without seeing. For God’s ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours.

 

We should not exalt ourselves, but rather wait to be called to the table. So I have said, “I will not speak of Him or speak in His name,” but His Word burned like a fire in my heart and I could not hold it back.

 

He has shown us what is good and what He requires of us: To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. So choose this day who you will serve: If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, then go your own way; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[Some Scriptures that have previously guided, and still do guide my life: Proverbs 22:3/27:12; James 4:13-15; Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 4:19, John 15:20; 1 Peter 2:11, Matthew 8:20, Philippians 3:20; John 20:29; Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 25:6-7, Luke 14:8-11; Jeremiah 20:9; Micah 6:8; Joshua 24:15. Combined from different translations and paraphrased.]

America’s Worship of Molech and Asherah

 

Did you know that the practices of child sacrifice and nature worship are alive and thriving in America today?

 

Ancient Israel was a people group called into covenant relationship with God Almighty—the Holy One; the Creator; the Great I Am; YHWH; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After the nation was established in the Promised Land, they eventually split into two kingdoms—the northern kingdom commonly referred to as Israel, and the southern as Judah. Contrary to common perception, both kingdoms had descendants from all twelve of the tribes who came from Jacob’s twelve sons. Initially after the split, those who rebelled against God’s prescribed method for communion migrated north, while those who desired to remain faithful migrated south. Scripture clearly states this. Also eventually, both kingdoms fell away from God, rejected His calling, turned from His ways, and declined into eventual conquest and captivity by their enemies—the north to the Assyrian Empire, and the south to the Babylonian Empire. The speed of decline was more rapid in the north, with the southern kingdom lasting about a century longer.

 

Many things led to the downfall of ancient Israel. But chief among them was the worship of false gods. God had commanded them to abstain from idol worship. But, as they became secure in the land of promise and prospered, they turned away and embraced the false gods of the nations around them and those who had been in Canaan previously. Their prosperity didn’t vanish immediately, and in fact some of them continued to experience even greater prosperity (in worldly terms) for a time. This will be an important point we will return to shortly. Two of the primary false gods embraced by both kingdoms were Molech, also known as Chemosh, and Asherah.

 

False gods are not real gods. There is only one real God. He is the Creator of all things—time, space, the universe, and everything else, including all living things. He is the Great I Am who spoke with Moses from the burning bush that wasn’t consumed in the wilderness. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD [YHWH] our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4; NKJV) False gods, and their representations or idols, are exactly that—false. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t bases for their existence. Besides God and humanity, there are also angels; both holy and fallen. Those holy are set apart in service to God; they are loyal and obedient to him. Those fallen are in rebellion against God, and loyal to their chief—Lucifer; also known as Satan. Angels are all created beings. There also exist creatures referred to in the Bible as demons, which are also beings of a fallen nature in service to Satan. Many false gods have some fallen being (angelic or demonic) as their inspiration or namesake. Many of these, what we might think of as spiritual beings or spirits—though they may be able to take bodily form—have very likely interfered in the cultures of humanity and influenced their affairs and received their worship. This is also an important point we will return to shortly.

 

Molech, or Chemosh, was a false god worshipped by the Ammonites, Moabites, and other Canaanite peoples. He was often depicted in idol form with the face of a calf, with outstretched arms and open hands ready to receive something, and made of bronze. His worshippers participated in human sacrifice, oftentimes of babies, who would be placed in his hands and burned in fire. Molech is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament. Jeremiah 32:35 tells us that the people of Judah would, “cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech.” (NKJV) God called this an “abomination” in that same context. They were sacrificing their children to a false god, a fallen or demonic spirit, in the hopes of obtaining in return some sort of favor—good harvest, abundance, wealth, prosperity, ease and comfort; things that are thought to bring pleasure and the good life.

 

Asherah was a false goddess worshipped by the Canaanites. She was worshipped as a mother or fertility goddess. Originally she was supposed to be the consort of Baal, and later perverted by the Israelites to a consort of, well, I won’t say. Her worshippers would set up Asherah Poles in groves, on hills, and on other high places. The poles were often made of wood. Worship of her was considered pagan, or associated with nature or things of nature. Asherah Poles and worship of Asherah are mentioned throughout the Old Testament. 2 Kings 21:7 tells us that King Manasseh of Judah, “set a carved image of Asherah” in the Lord’s House (the Temple of Solomon) in Jerusalem. (NKJV) Manasseh, by the way, also, “made his son pass through the fire.” (2 Kings 21:6; NKJV) In other words, he too practiced child sacrifice to Molech.

 

Worship of these false gods, and others, significantly contributed to the downfall of the kingdoms of ancient Israel and Judah. America today is involved in this same worship. The Unites States, and many other industrialized nations both in the West and around the world, are elevating the false gods of Molech and Asherah. Although the physical representations of these gods as idols for people to abase themselves before may not be with us, the spirit of these gods, and the spiritual beings themselves whom these gods were named for, are with us in America.

 

Americans and others, though perhaps unwittingly, sacrifice their own babies upon the altars of economic prosperity and convenience through abortion. This assertion may shock one’s sensibilities, but it’s true. When a child is aborted because its birth would create economic hardship, then he or she is sacrificed in the spirit of hoping for a better financial condition. When a baby is aborted because the timing of the pregnancy interferes with a life stage, plans for education, or career, then he or she is sacrificed in the spirit of convenience or hoping for a better life. When abortion is used to eliminate the natural consequence of sexual activity, then the child is sacrificed in the spirit of pleasure. These sacrifices are made in the same spirit as those ancient societies who killed their children before the idols or put them through the fire. They are made to the spirit of Molech.

 

Americans and others, though perhaps unwittingly, worship the false gods and goddesses of nature when they elevate environmental issues to be of greater importance than human issues. I want to be clear. I am not asserting that we don’t have a responsibility to be good stewards of creation, the earth, the environment, or other living creatures with whom we share the planet. In fact, I believe we were given a mandate by the Creator to be good stewards of the things— not to be wasteful, cruel, destructive, or irresponsible. But when we (humanity) reject our Creator and instead worship His creation, then we are worshipping false gods. When we believe animal life or the environment has more value than humans who were made in God’s image, then we are worshipping false gods. This is worshipping the spirit of Asherah.

 

Our society and others not only commit these acts, but they are also legalized, sanctioned, approved, celebrated, demanded, and sometimes enforced by law—depending on location. The spirits of Molech and Asherah are active in America and the world today, as millions of people are sacrificing to them and worshipping them through their priorities and actions. This will ultimately lead to our downfall as well, though it isn’t possible to predict exactly how or when. Even though America is still prosperous, at least by many standards, it is a temporary state. Both kingdoms of ancient Israel were conquered by enemies who were just as wicked, or even more so. Of course, those empires eventually fell too. God uses or allows various instruments to implement His justice, even if those instruments are in turn judged for their wickedness in due time. These aren’t the only reasons that America and other nations will eventually be judged by the Creator. But they certainly are significant contributors. It is poignant to see the parallels. We can see the possible beginnings of the fall of America from a place of preeminence on the global stage already happening with its current internal strife and unrest. If so, and I’m not predicting this outcome for certain, what we are seeing now would only be the beginning. After all, the fall of the Roman Empire started with internal strife.

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” -Psalm 139:13,16; NIV

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” -Jeremiah 1:5; NKJV

 

“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit... ‘For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.’” -Luke 1:41,44; NKJV

 

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” -Romans 1:24-25; NKJV

 

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...” -Exodus 20:3-5; KJV

 

“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” -Ecclesiastes 1:9; NKJV

 

I recognize this may anger many people. It may enlighten or even encourage some. Lord willing, it might convict some. If you are feeling a tugging on your heart or a desire to be made right in relationship with the One who made and loves you, no matter what you may have done in the past, there is hope! Jesus died and rose again from death in order to take away all the evil done by, and present within, any and all people who would accept Him and His offer to save. Just tell God in your heart and mind that you know you’ve been and done wrong, and that you know you cannot fix or save yourself. Tell Him you trust in Him to keep His promise to save you because of what Jesus did and because you ask for it. Surrender to Him, and believe! Read the book of John in the Bible if you want to know more. Or find a true Christian who trusts in Jesus as Savior and ask. God will not turn you away if you call upon Jesus.

 

Grace and peace.

We Knew This was Coming

We were told about this in advance. Knowing doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to experience. But we shouldn’t be confused by it, or by what’s coming next.

 

What were we told? Racial hostility, economic turmoil, diseases, natural disasters, offenses and hatred. What’s coming next? More of what’s been named already, and even more; plus persecution of those who follow Jesus.

 

When were we told? Before anyone who’s reading this was born. Approximately 2000 years ago. Where we were told? The telling is recorded in the Bible. You’ll see that in a moment. Who told us? None other than Jesus, Himself.

 

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”

-Matthew 24:7-10, NKJV

 

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

-Matthew 24:12, NKJV

 

What is the context here? In the preceding verses, Jesus’ disciples came to Him privately and asked what would be the signs of His coming (into His kingdom) and of the end of the age (of the time before His kingdom). Jesus spends the rest of the chapter answering them. From verses 4-12, He speaks of the times leading up to the end of the age. From verses 15-30, He speaks of the end. The rest of the chapter speaks about different things related to all this. But in verse 6, He says these things He is immediately speaking on must come to pass, but are not the end yet. We see these things happening around us now.

 

Verse 7: “For nation will rise against nation,” The original Greek word here for “nation” is “ethnos” which is the origin of the word ethnicity in English, and can also be translated as tribe or race.

 

Verse 7: “And there will be famines...” The original Greek word here for “famines” is “limos,” which also can mean scarcity (of harvest or food), hunger, or dearth; and has as its root the idea of destitution. Not only could the word be translated scarcity or destitution, but frequently famines aren’t necessarily caused by lack of food production, but due to distribution, supply, or economic considerations. In other words, this could just as easily be financial or economic destitution leading to lack of sustenance, as much as anything else.

 

Verse 7: “...pestilences,” The original Greek word here for “pestilences” is “loimos” which can be translated as pest, plague, or disease.

 

This passage is not about the United States. But the United States is a microcosm of the world; and what’s happening in the United States, and the world at large, is stunningly parallel to what’s being described in this passage.

 

Nation against nation: Racial tension.

 

Famines: Economic troubles and destitution.

 

Pestilences: Covid-19 (Coronavirus)—and more.

 

Earthquakes: Natural disasters.

 

Verse 10: Offenses and hatred.

 

Verse 12: Lawlessness and unloving.

 

If these troubles don’t describe the state of America and the world in 2020, I don’t know what does. It’s happening across the globe, and it’s happening here. And freedoms are being lost; surrendered even, in the face of fears and accusations.

 

And what about verse 9? Persecution (tribulation, hatred, and killing) of those who are of Jesus’ namesake. Christians have been persecuted all over the world for millennia. It is coming here too. Followers of Christ in the United Stares are not exempt from the persecution Jesus warned would come.

 

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also... He who hates Me hates My Father also.”

-John 15:18-20 and 23, NKJV

 

The world hates those who don’t conform to its ways. By standing in contrast and being different, followers of Christ act as a mirror—reflecting back to the world an image of itself as it really is: Lawless, unloving, cold; dark, and separated from its Creator. The world hates to see itself as it is; and those who are of it prefer to live in denial, and justify themselves in their own hearts and minds, rather than admit the truth they know, and humble themselves in surrender to Christ. They persecuted and killed Jesus. They have persecuted and killed His followers since. It very well may happen here before the time of the end. After all, protestors in Portland, Oregon have burned Bibles right alongside the US flag.

 

Matthew 24:7-12 describes the “beginning of sorrows” (verse 8 ). Matthew 24:6: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (NKJV) All these things described happen before the end of the age. So we should not expect to avoid persecution, even if we believe we won’t be present in the days of the very end of the age.

 

And we know it is worse at the end of the age. So we should expect these things to escalate and accelerate. More of these things will happen, and they will be worse. One only needs to read the book of Revelation to see that. The actual time of the end of the age will be far worse. More frequent and extreme lawlessness, hatred, offenses, natural disasters, pestilences, famines, human in-fighting, and wars. But I don’t expect that we (those who surrender their will to Christ and accept His gift of salvation now) will be here for those final days. I have written about this elsewhere. See my three-part blog post titled “Caught Up.”

 

What is the solution? These things will come. They are happening now. They “must come to pass” before the end. But there is a blessed hope for those who follow Jesus. Yes, He was killed by the world. But He rose from death, and thereby conquered death and sin. His followers will rise from death too, if they aren’t “caught up” before the end.

 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.”

-John 14:1, NKJV

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

-John 14:6, NKJV

 

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

-John 14:27, NKJV

 

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

-John 1:12, NKJV

 

“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”

-Romans 10:13, NKJV

 

Now, of course there will be those who would argue that these prophecies of Jesus (from Matthew 24) are so vague and generalized In nature that they can’t help but be self-fulfilling. And in some regards, they wouldn’t be completely incorrect. But they are coming to pass, and they are happening all at once, and they are happening everywhere, and they are happening right before our eyes. The precision and the parallels to what we see unfolding before us daily are too notable to ignore. Of course, some will simply not believe at all. This is no surprise either. 2 Peter 3:3-4: “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” (NKJV)

 

But clear prophecy is being clearly fulfilled. There is clear application and relevance to our lives. And our response to our Creator and the Savior whom He sent will determine our eternal destiny.

 

Grace and peace to you.

Hosanna in the Highest

“Sing hosanna to the Lord on high!

Sing hosanna to the Lord on high!
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!

Sing maranatha unto Christ our king!
Sing maranatha unto Christ our king!
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, Christ is King!
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!”

Not my original work. Sung by Morningstar Christian Chapel worship team, Whittier, CA; early 1990s.

When He Comes

“When He comes, there will be no pain.
When He comes, there will be no sorrow.
When He comes, there will be no suffering.
We will all be one, when He comes.

All eyes will be on Him.
And every knee will bow.
All nations will cry out:
He is King! He is King!”

Not my original work. Sung by Morningstar Christian Chapel worship team, Whittier, CA; early 1990s.