“WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?”

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of well-known book, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”, was sought out for commentary in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He wrote about that time in his book, “Conquering Fear”, devoting a chapter to the fallout. He found that the attacks left people across the U.S. with a deep sense of vulnerability. Kushner explains terrorism and its power: “Terrorist math is simple. Kill one person, frighten a thousand. Kill a few thousand people, terrify an entire population. ... The power of a terrorist act, the secret of its effectiveness, lies in its randomness.” But he also wrote of conquering the power of terrorism: “We will have to hold on to our faith that God has given us a world where evil is possible but evil will ultimately consume itself.”

Mr. Kushner’s statement that “our faith that God has given us” is key to understanding why bad things happen to good people as well as understanding how to conquer fear. HOW HAS GOD GIVEN US FAITH; AND WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THAT FAITH? While faith is personal, this does not mean that each person can determine the kind of faith that he desires. Man has no authority or freedom from God to develop his ‘own unique, personal’ faith without regard to what the word of God declares about faith. 

Faith, while “like precious” (2 Peter 1:1); is also said to be ‘common’ (Titus 1:4). This means that it is shared by all who are in Christ (cf. Acts 2:44; 4:32). Yet, faith is individual in that each person must ‘come to’ his own knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4), before he can be saved. In this sense, repentance is ‘common’ as each must turn from his own sins (2 Peter 3:8). Even sin is ‘common’ in that sin is a transgression of God’s will; and every accountable person has done so (Romans 3:23). 

Salvation is also ‘common’ and ‘like precious’, but personal (Jude 1:3). Furthermore, salvation is only as God has decreed. Peter acknowledged this saying, “…in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:35). Peter further acknowledged that God purifies Jew and Gentile in a ‘common’ way, “purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9). It was God’s purpose from eternity for all the saved to be united in one body, through a ‘common’ faith, thus having a ‘common’ salvation (Ephesians 2:16). 

Salvation is based upon love…God’s love for us and our love for Him. His love for us is stated in John 3:16. God’s love is also seen in giving us guidance and purpose for living through the teachings that came by inspiration of His Spirit. Jesus’ teachings on love were by commandment from God and according to the word that His Father gave Him (John 12:49-50). Thus, what man knows of love, he has learned from God.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends…” (John 15:13). Man would never have known the concept of love had God not shown man how to love. This did not come from creation, but from His revelation to man. But neither would we know how to love God in return had God not taught us. Jesus told the apostles in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In John 14:15, 21, He taught these words: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

But we also learn how to love one another from what God has taught us. In 1 John 3:16 we read, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Having learned how to express love back to God and to our fellow man, we overcome fear.

Because man has failed to express love AS GOD ORDAINED, bad things happen to good people. This is the spiritual lesson to be learned from the tragedy of 9/11 and any other tragedy. Life is not random, but according to God’s eternal purpose. The lesson we need to learn is, “…Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2).

3/20/22

“OUT of UR, EGYPT, and SIN”

 

“Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham.” (Nehemiah 9:7).

While it is stated in the verse above that God brought Abraham out of Ur, it doesn’t explain the manner in which God did so. However, there are other texts that do explain how, and these passages will be the focus of the article. As we examine these additional texts, we will find that both God and Abraham had active roles. If it were to be asked, ‘Did Abraham DO anything’, then the answer is clearly ‘yes’. We find that God gave a command to Abraham to leave Ur and Abraham obeyed (cf. Genesis 12:1-4; Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8). God promised an inheritance to Abraham and Abraham believed God would fulfill His oath (Hebrews 11:9-10).

Abraham’s faith was not dead, like his own body was said to be (Hebrews 11:12). His faith was strong, fully trusting that God would accomplish whatever God declared. The apostle Paul stated the following words of Abraham: “Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21).

Apart from declaring His will to (and for) Abraham, would Abraham have chosen to leave Ur? What reason(s) would have sufficed for Abraham to even consider such a move?  In giving commands and promises to Abraham, God would know whether or not Abraham feared Him above all else. God did not force Abraham to leave Ur. That is an important fact to recognize. God gave Abraham a choice in regard to the matter. We see his faith made perfect by his obedience. THIS was how God ‘brought’ Abraham out.

What was true in the case of Abraham coming out of Ur was also true with the children of Israel. We see this from Stephen’s words in Acts 7. In v. 36, Stephen said that God ‘brought’ them out of Egypt. Yet in vss. 25 and 40 we find that God did so by the hand of Moses. God promised the blessings of Abraham to the people of Israel through Moses and gave them commands. They believed and obeyed (Exodus 3:21-22; 12:35). God fulfilled His promise. The psalmist declared, “He brought the Israelites out with silver and gold, and among His tribes, there was not one who stumbled.” (Psalm 105:37). THIS was how God ‘brought’ them out of Egypt. As with Abraham, so likewise God did not force these people to submit. He gave them evidence whereby they could choose to believe in His power to fulfill His promises if they so desired.

This same thing is true with us in regard to our salvation from sin. We are not forced to stop committing sin, however we have the resurrection as proof of our eternal inheritance (Acts 17:30-31).

In view of this, we can choose to repent or perish (2 Peter 3:9). This eternal inheritance was the same promise God made to Abraham and to the children of Israel. These promises are related. God’s bringing Abraham out of Ur and Israel out of Egypt was with a view to bringing us out of sin. This was what He purposed from eternity. God ‘brought’ Abraham out of Ur to “bless ALL” in the future, in Christ (cf. Genesis 12:3; Acts 3:26).

The apostle Peter wrote that God has given us “exceeding great and precious promises” through Christ (2 Peter 1:4). Our blessings were promised upon the same conditions that were stated to Abraham and his descendants: faith and compliance. In this manner, God ‘brings’ us out of sin. We see the power of God’s word from this process. God’s word has the power to convict the heart to repent and accept God’s offer of salvation (Romans 1:16). The apostle Paul described our blessings this way, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, ‘In thee shall all the nations be blessed’.” (Galatians 3:8).

Let us learn from the example of how God ‘brought’ Abraham out and have hope “through patience and comfort of the scriptures” (Romans 15:4).

3/14/22

“THE TASSEL”

“The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a violet thread. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes, which led you to prostitute yourselves, so that you will remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God.” (Numbers 15:37-40).

There are two interesting words in the text above that will be the focus of this week’s article. These words point out what is necessary for every Christian. The first word is ‘fringe’. Some versions have the word ‘tassel’. We are familiar with a tassel as it is prevalent in graduation ceremonies in our culture. The children of Israel were given a command to wear tassels on the borders of their garments throughout their generations. The purpose being a reminder of something which was most important: Be obedient to Jehovah’s commands! While we are familiar with a similar act of tying a string around one of our fingers, such is not done as a reminder to obey God. While we are not commanded to wear tassels, we are given other commands from God which serves as reminders to be obedient.

For example, the command to assemble is our “tassel” reminder. We assemble to be reminded of the commands of the gospel to keep them; to be holy. We also assemble to be reminded NOT to follow after the lusts and desires of our own heart. Our ‘coming together’ can be for the better, or for the worse (1 Corinthians 11:20); depending upon how well we remember.

There is no greater event to remember than the sacrifice of Jesus. The purpose for which He shed His blood was for the remission of our sins. Therefore we have been given a command to proclaim His death. We find from all the records of the observance of the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:117-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28), that disciples are to be together when partaking. Yes, we are to come together! It should be no surprise to find a “tassel-reminder” in connection with this memorial. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we read, “…let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”

It is ironic that this most significant event is the very one that is least remembered by those who have been taught human traditions and human theology. Satan’s deception of how to observe this memorial has been the springboard for all other deceptions. Therefore, a few words regarding the manner in which this remembering is to be done is in order. Must we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns?” ‘Of course’, you might reply. How then shall we proclaim it? Do we have any inspired language from the Holy Spirit as to how we are to remember, or may we decide this according to our own wisdom? We find that practices vary from weekly, to monthly, to yearly. Some partake on Thursday night, some on Saturday, and others on Sunday. Some now do it from home without any regard to the command to ‘come together’ in Hebrews 10:25.

The variance in practice is indicative that either no divine guidance exists, or the divine guidance is simply not followed. Which is it? The answer lies in a brief study of the second term. It is the word ‘follow’ or ‘seek’ (KJV). The Israelites were told to ‘not follow’ something (re-read v. 39 above). The word ‘follow’ means to follow much as the hind leg of an animal follows the front leg. It goes wherever the front leg steps. There is no decision made regarding whether the path is a path of danger, it just follows without thinking. What God was then meaning was to NOT follow your heart’s desire without any consideration of whether your heart is following the Lord’s commandments; remember THEM! We need to remember what God spoke to Noah when He gave the reminder of the rainbow: “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…” (Genesis 8:21).

Attaching a tassel to their garments was such an insignificant act, yet it had profound purpose. How important was it? Assembling is a very insignificant thing for many, yet it likewise has an equally profound purpose. How important is it to you? Remember, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

3/6/22

“THE NEW NAME, WRITTEN IN GLORY”

 

Six centuries before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretold that a new name would be given to the people of God. The prophet wrote, “And the nations shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory: and thou shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name” (Isaiah 62:2). The Lord was going to give his people a new name! This prophecy is fulfilled in Acts. By this time Jesus had come, gave his blood for the sins of the world, and resurrected from the dead. The church had been established and the gospel was being preached among the nations. Thus the stage was set for the giving of this new name, an in Acts 11:26 we read, “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”.

The name Christian is not a term of derision. Rather, this is the new name which God gave to His people. It is a name to be worn with joy and with thanksgiving. The apostle Peter wrote, “If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:16). A Christian is one who follows the example of Christ both in word and deed. By this behavior one is identified with Christ. We see this from what was said about Peter and John in Acts 4:13. “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” This is what it means to be identified with Christ. Many people followed after Jesus during His earthly ministry, yet few followed His words and His example. In fact, most feared to be identified with Him.

To be identified with Christ is to be in a covenant relationship with Him. Jeremiah had prophesied of the day when God would “make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jeremiah 31:31). Jesus was the mediator of that new covenant (Hebrews 12:24). His laws would be written upon the mind and heart of His people (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). This pointed to the fact that their consciences would be purged from sin (Hebrews 10:2; 2 Peter 1:9). Jesus would purge our sins with His blood (Hebrews 1:3). This is why Jesus, after observing the Passover with His disciples, took a cup and said, “this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

Entrance into this covenant relationship is by means of the new birth that Jesus spoke of in John 3 to Nicodemus. The Lord said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). When Nicodemus failed to understand the new birth, Jesus explained it more fully by saying, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). Notice from John 3:5 that Jesus spoke of the new birth in connection with entering into the kingdom of God. This indicates that the new birth could not occur unless the kingdom of God had been established. Jesus also taught in Matthew 7:21 that entrance into the kingdom was conditioned upon obedience to the will of the Father. He said, "Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".

From these texts we learn several things. We see that the new birth is an act of obedience to the will of the Father and that entrance into the kingdom is by obedience. Further we see that entrance into the kingdom is identical with entrance into a covenant relationship. Therefore, entering into a covenant relationship with God is an act of obedience.

Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be ‘born anew’. There was something for Nicodemus to obey in being born anew. How would this happen? When would Nicodemus undergo this new birth? It would happen in the manner that Jesus explained to the apostles. The kingdom of God would come ‘with power’ from on high. The apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until this happened. When this power came upon THEM (the apostles); they would preach words of repentance and remission of sins. (Luke 24:47-49). They would explain how remission is connected to the blood of Jesus. Everyone who was saved in the book of Acts was ‘born anew’ in like manner as Nicodemus.

In Acts 10 Cornelius, we find a good moral man who was not a Christian (Acts 10:2, 22). Yet Cornelius had not been ‘born of water and of the Spirit’. An angel of God was sent to tell him ‘words’ THAT PERTAINED TO BEING BORN ANEW (Acts 11:14). He would need to obey these words, like as Nicodemus. Cornelius was told the same words as Nicodemus.

To exercise one’s faith by obedience to these words is to obey the gospel. Those who will be eternally lost are those who do NOT obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). While there are many who do not know God, many who know God have not obeyed the gospel commands that pertain to being born anew. Those who have are known in Glory by this new name: Christian.

2/27/22

“TWO WAYS TO BE OVERTAKEN”

 

In the days of the prophet Samuel, the people of Israel demanded a king (1 Samuel 8). This demand was a grave act of disobedience. In spite of God’s warnings against this (Deuteronomy 17), it would have been ‘well’ with them had they heeded all that God had spoken through His servants the prophets. But they didn’t listen. What’s more, disobedience characterized the lives of the majority of the nation of Israel after the demand for a king. Because of their persistent disobedience, the messages of the prophets called upon the people to repent. God warned time and again that if they persisted in rejecting His words, that there would be grave penalties. God’s words are never spoken in vain. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11). To ‘overtake’ meant that God would carry out what He purposed (Lamentations 2:17; Jeremiah 44:28-29).

Disobedience is fueled (ignited) by false words. As in Old Testament times, false words abound today. Therefore truth is as rare today as it was then. The responsibility falls upon each of us to distinguish between God’s words and false words. Pleading ignorance is only a feeble attempt to place our blame upon someone else. This was what Adam and Eve did (Genesis 3).

God warned the prophet Ezekiel of those who preached error, prophesying “from their own inspiration”; “following their own spirit”; “false visions”, and “lying divinations” rather than LISTENING “to the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13).

The devastating effect upon those who heard such was seen from the words of another prophet, Zechariah. He opened his message by reminding the people of what had happened to their ancestors when THEY refused to LISTEN to the “word of the Lord” by the prophets. Zechariah wrote, “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me…and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying…return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me…your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live for ever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, DID THEY NOT OVERTAKE YOUR FATHERS? And they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.” (Zechariah 1:3-6). We see from this that God’s words overtook those who listened to these false prophets as well as the false prophets.

God’s words are designed to overtake us. The manner in which they will overtake us depends upon our acceptance or rejection of them.  “If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.” (Jeremiah 18:7-10). The earlier prophets spoke to the ancestors of the people of Israel of Zechariah’s day. These ancestors were warned to repent of their sins, yet refused. But those to whom Zechariah spoke, repented.

In repentance there is, of course, a submitting of one’s own will to the will of God. It is in the submitting that the ‘overtaking’ of God’s words occurs. Likewise, when God’s words are rejected, one will still be overtaken. It will occur at the appointed time of God’s choosing. This manner of being overtaken is in the form of punishment. Clearly, as in Ezekiel’s day, those who questioned NOT the error, along with those who preached “falsehood” and a “lie”, will perish together. Ezekiel was told to expose them AND their false doctrine (Ezekiel 13:1-8).

As God told the prophet Jeremiah, only a message of truth will open one’s understanding, giving a "heart to know me, that I am the LORD..."; so that wayward people will "return" to God, "...with their whole heart." (Jeremiah 24:7). If we allow God’s words to ‘overtake’ us NOW, in repentance and fruit unto righteousness; THAT DAY, i.e., the day of the Lord will not overtake us as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

2/12/22

“IGNITE: THE NEED AND PURPOSE”

“IGNITE” has been selected as the theme for this year. The term ignite means to arouse to action. A spark causes a fire to burn. Human emotions can be aroused (ignited) to action in a good way as well as a bad way. Debates and arguments can result from aroused emotions. We find these two reactions in scripture. In Acts 13:50 we read, “the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas.” Then in Exodus 35:21 we read, “And they came, every one WHOSE HEART STIRRED HIM UP, and every one WHOM HIS SPIRIT MADE WILLING…brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.”

God often stirred up men in these two ways (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; 1 Kings 11:14). When we study the contexts of these incidents, we find that God was the spark to cause men to act out what was within their hearts, good or evil. With Solomon, we find that he had committed sin in going after other gods. As a result, God stirred up an adversary (Hadad), against him as punishment for his sins. With Cyrus, God stirred his heart up and Cyrus granted all God’s people in captivity to return to Jerusalem, which resulted in the temple being rebuilt, fulfilling His promise to save an elect or remnant through which Jesus would come, establishing His church.

This is the purpose for the word of God. It brings out the good or evil in our hearts. It is the needed spark that will arouse our spirit within us to act on our desires. In so doing, we will reveal what is needed to be known about ourselves. We find this from the teaching of Jesus in Mark 4:21-22: “And he said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light’.”

We need to know the truth about ourselves NOW, while we have the time and opportunity to serve God. Are we truly serving God, or just giving lip-service? What is the truth about our attitude toward serving God? How will we ever know? It will only be known through our response to things God commands of us. If we REALLY have a desire to serve, we will do as the Israelites did in Exodus 35:21. If not, we will do as a later generation did in Malachi 1:13. While we may assemble and go through the acts of worship, but doing so without a willing heart will only incur the wrath of God upon us.

We find from Deuteronomy 6 the attitude we are to have toward God’s word that will, in turn ensure a blessing from God as He blessed Israel with Cyrus. In verse 5 Moses said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The context in which these words are found clearly prove that loving God is done through obedience to God’s words. Notice Deuteronomy 6:1-7: “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey…and these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

As we consider the matter of ‘igniting’ one another, remember that our stirring up of each other is to be on-going and that our efforts must be directed toward the conversion of the heart. The Hebrew writer put it this way:  “…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Let us not be as Israel in Malachi’s day and view our serving God as ‘wearisome’. Rather let us have the attitude of David, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’.” (Psalm 122:1).

1/17/22

“IS IT FUTILE TO SERVE GOD?”

A new year has begun. Many resolutions have been made. One resolution that would benefit every person is that of serving God. As we take inventory of our lives, we may find that our lives have become stagnant. The people of Zephaniah’s day had become stagnant. Zephaniah said they were,“…men who are stagnant is spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad’.” (Zephaniah 1:12). Because of this, God was bringing punishment upon His people. It begs several questions: How could God’s people become stagnant? WHY would God’s people become stagnant? What factors contributed to this? Perhaps a more important question: Is this mindset prevalent among God’s people today? Let us consider these matters in this article.

Stagnation is a failure to develop, progress, or advance. When water becomes stagnant, a foulness or staleness, emanates results. When people become stagnant, this concept of foulness or staleness is seen in their dullness of hearing and their senses unable to discern right from wrong.

From Zephaniah 1:5-6 we see the characteristics of stagnant behavior in God’s people. They “…bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom.” They had “…turned back from following the LORD, and...not sought the LORD or inquired of Him.”

How had this happened? We find the answer in the record of their own lives. God’s people had persisted in disobedience to the Law of Moses. They were strictly warned not to imitate the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 6:14), yet they did this very thing! They had become “settled” in this way of living. Zephaniah said, “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil…” (1:12). This describes their complacency. Other prophets gave us similar explanations.

~ Ezekiel wrote, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land” (8:12).

~ Malachi revealed even more insight. He described their complaining and murmuring as follows: “You have wearied the LORD with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them’ or ‘Where is the God of justice’?” (2:17)

~ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty’?” (3:14)

Stagnation is no respecter of persons. Complacency can ‘set in’ today when anyone persists in disobedience. A stagnant life only changes in repentance. The gospel message declares this necessity. When a child is raised in an environment of complacency, it presents the most difficult obstacle to overcome in giving one’s life to Christ. Herein we see the need for the training up of a child in righteousness by both word and example of the parents.

Complacency can return in the life of Christians. When Christians suffer from complacency, they become weary of standing for the truth. Read again Malachi’s record of the words of Israel: ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?’ (Malachi 3:14). Weariness in well-doing is an ever-present threat. It wears on us. We see the parade-like atmosphere in the religious world about us on the TV and on social media as they praise the Lord for their blessings and prosperity, while we go about “carrying out his requirements, like mourners…” Enticed by the glitter many have sought to incorporate their practices into the worship of the Lord to “liven up” things. They see the proverbial “greener grass” among the denominational ways and desire to be fed with their ‘social’ food! They see the prosperity…the large numbers among them and conclude that there is not ‘justice’ with God. As the Psalmist stated of the wicked in Psalm 94:7 – “…they say ‘The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive’.” God answered with a reply that is still applicable today in Psalm 94:9-13:“He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? The Lord, who teaches man knowledge, knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

1-14-22