Now, that same Federal Government, at the gavel of an activist judge, has ruled that men can marry men, women can marry women and previous to this, another judge ruled that polygamist relationships where only one is "legal" can exist and the other women can call themselves "wives" so long as they are not applying for a marriage license for all other parties who choose to participate in this unholy alliance.
We have lost our way as a nation.
Like all civilizations before us, we have dwindled in unbelief as a people. We have allowed good to be called evil, championed evil as a necessary "good" and put government dictate ahead of God's commandments in order to appease the evildoers who will continue to demand more and more real estate in our heart and mind until freedom disappears at the behest of the Father of Lies and those who willingly serve him.
It isn't popular to speak the truth. Prophets and those who choose to follow God have been subjected to ridicule, shame, persecution and even death for speaking out against the popular sins of every era. No one wants to be discomfited in their sins. They want to revel in them, bask in their "personal freedom" and tell everyone that differing points of view are biased, old-fashioned, evil and mean-spirited. They want to have legislative support for their wickedness to take the sting and the stench from what they KNOW to be wrong, so that it will be more palatable to them personally, and to those who will follow along not realizing that they are trip trapping down the path to eternal destruction led by the pied pipers of mayhem and wickedness.
Then, when it is truly everlastingly too late, like those desperate swimmers pounding on the sides of the Ark demanding to be let inside, they will perish.
Decent people are always compelled to suffer with those who support iniquity. It has ever been thus. Even if the direct effects of evil are kept at bay, the emotional and spiritual toll that comes as fervent believers in Christ pray for relief of suffering, strength to endure the trials place upon them and the hope of brighter days ahead are not entirely removed or ameliorated.
We pray for those who despitefully use us even as Christ enjoined us to do. But our praying does not always remove the sting and suffering.
We pray for those who are supplanting decency with decadence and hope for a mighty change of heart which may not ever come.
We petition God for relief of the burdens that are ever before our eyes in a society that wants to interpret all of God's words for personal gain, personal satisfaction and personal excuse for pet sins.
Yet we are told to patiently endure - which means plainly there will be something we must needs endure.
Sometimes that stinks.
The spiritual wickedness in high places continues to grow as our nation's moral compass has been trampled under the feet of those entrusted to lead us who have instead abrogated their moral responsibility for the praise and adulation of a sin-sick world.
That does not excuse individuals from choosing the right regardless of circumstances around them. We do not get a 'free pass' to indulge and still claim the moral high ground of a follower of Christ. Matthew 6:24 says it well. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The Apostle Paul spoke of our day in the New Testament. In the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, Paul spoke about the conditions in that time and forewarned about the conditions we are seeing in our own day.
In what can best be described as an admonition to arm ourselves with the protection we need in order to survive the world and be able to stand and receive the blessings of the next, Paul instructed:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
We are not given to fear. We are given as living witnesses of God at all times, in a things and in all places where we may be. He will give us the words we should speak, the power to say what is needful without being hateful - though the world WILL take it that way because the message will discomfit them - and to preach the word as HE deems it be preached.
That doesn't remove freedom no matter what anyone claims. The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides freedom. It removes the influence of Satan. It breaks the chains with which we are bound down to sin. And it cleanses us from the oppression and guilt that holds us captive in the iniquity that bruises, bloodies and destroys.
Hold fast to that which is good even if others make different choices. God is mindful. We are sent for this time because He trusts us enough to give us the choice of whom we shall list to obey.
Joshua 24:15 ... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
