No King in Israel

It seems there is so much to say these days and yet it is difficult to find the best way to say it.  We can believe, if we wish, that we are living in extraordinary times, that the chaos we are experiencing is something that the world has never seen.  But, in reality, that's not true.  Unlike the Israelites, we don't live in a theocracy.  Our nation was, however, founded on basic Judeo-Christian principles.  And, these principles have been slowly eroded as the teachings of secular ideology have advanced.  We now find ourselves with no King in Israel.

This phrase appears four times in the book of Judges (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).  In both the first and last instances, we are also told "everyone did what was right in his own eyes".  There were times when Israel repented and turned to God.  When sin reigned, however, they were plagued by their enemies and thrown into moral and spiritual chaos.  Was the problem solved once God finally allowed an earthly king?  Israel did have vast periods of peace and prosperity . . . as long as they followed God.  But, they were ultimately lead away into captivity - more than once - because they rejected the only true to King that matters.  Earthly leadership failed to be the spiritual guiding force for the people because it was never intended to be!

What a difficult revelation, especially as an American.  Our government, our substance as a nation, a people, is predicated on the belief that God has given us "unalienable rights".  And, we find our identities in our history and the documents that helped found our nation.  These documents aren't there to simply protect us as Christians, but all those who wish to live in a society protected from tribal or mob rule, who wish to exercise individual expression not collectivist culture.  But, is our Christian identity too entangled with our American identity?  Don't mistake me.  I believe in the ideals asserted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  I think they are worth fighting for.  Yet, millions of Christians exist without these privileges day in and day out.  So what happens when our history is erased?  What happens when dissent is silenced and truth is exchanged for a lie?  Can we survive without our American identity?  

I must admit that I'm angry about what I see happening in our country.  And, I'm scared for the future my children may have to endure.  They already face ungodly spiritual influences, but soon they may face physical dangers that we, as a nation, have largely been insulated from.  I cannot offer any hard and fast solutions.  Though in this time of turmoil, let me leave you with a few thoughts:

• God allowed His people to suffer persecution when they sinned.  Repentance lead to reconciliation and protection.  Pray for a revival in our nation, that people return to the King.
• The first century church grew during a time of great persecution.  James tells us in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials."  And, Peter reminds us that, ". . . it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (I Peter 3:17).  I would suggest reading the entire passage of I Peter 3:8-17.
• Remember the words of the Lord to the nation of Judah during their captivity:  "Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. . .  For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29: 5-7, 10-11).  Far from home, slaves to another nation; God tells His people to go on living.  And, He promises hope - the hope of eternal salvation and a home with Him in heaven.
• I'm proud to be an American.  But, my identity in Christ must come first.  As we stand for the righteous ideals of liberty and equality, let us remember to always look to the cross then we can  look to the flag.

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Remember Your Origins

Over the next several weeks I will be taking the opportunity to post short blogs based on a book I'm writing.  The very title of my blog is taken from a post: When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Dig More Wells.  The original post was written a number of years ago for a previous blog but I decide to re-post it a few months ago.  I invite you to read that post as well, but for now, let's start at the beginning.

From Ancestry to MyHeritage to Geni, the search for one’s genealogy has become a billion dollar industry.  Yes, that’s BILLION.  While our dot com society has greatly increased access to such information, the desire to understand our origins is not unique to this modern era.  Genealogies were once utilized only by royalty or elite ruling classes.  Now the everyday man can gain access to tens of thousands of records.  What served as a method for establishing pedigree has transformed into a means of determining personal identity.  But, how much of who we really are is dependent upon our physical ancestors?

The inspired writers of God's word catalog several family trees.  And, the gospel writers Matthew and Luke establish Christ’s royal bloodline through genealogical means.  Most of us have heard the phrase “from good stock”.  It’s an indication that a person comes from a socially acceptable family tree.  If, however, we pause a moment and consider Christ’s family tree, it’s chock full of all kinds of undesirable elements: liars, thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, etc.  From Tamar and Judah to Rahab to David and Bathsheba, God takes the broken, the sinners, the downcast; He accomplishes His will through the most unlikely individuals.  Christ didn’t come from “good stock”.  He was a carpenters’ son from an insignificant town called Nazareth.  Born in a stable and laid in a manager, He didn’t enter this world through pomp and circumstance.  There was no silver spoon in his mouth.  The prophet Isaiah tells us that Christ was not beautiful to behold and that He was despised and rejected.  The King of kings had no place to rest His head and was crowned only with thorns.  

Satan works against us day by day seeking to separate us from God.  But, Paul writes in Romans, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (8:28).  Not that all things are good, but that God can take our pains, our sufferings, our lemons and accomplish His will in our lives.  When we consider this trend in genealogical research, we must remember that the only identity that matters is the one that comes from being a child of God.  Our origins are not tied up in fleshly bloodlines, but in the Spirit of our Almighty creator.