How to Live in Evil Times

"In these evil days, where sinful leaders occupy seats of power, let us persist in doing good, being voices of truth and sharing heaven’s good news. Let our trust and hope be in Jesus, who has risen from the dead. For He has conquered the evil which rulers pedal onto their citizens, and is more powerful than any demonic forces leading them."

A new king took the throne in Egypt and looked upon the people of Israel with contempt. They had lived under the Egyptians in peace for generations, but things dramatically changed with the new Pharaoh. They were turned into slaves, oppressed and treated ruthlessly for decades. At one point Pharaoh ordered all sons born to Israelite women to be thrown into the river to die. Day after day the cries of the people of Israel ascended before God, praying against the wicked acts of Pharaoh and for their deliverance.

The story of the Israelites is the story of many nations today. A sinful leader takes his seat of power and with it firmly in his hand, he wields it with a vengeance against his enemies. His foolish exercise of power ultimately not only brings ruin upon his powerless opponents, but tragically ends up destabilizing his nation.

It is this type of situation the Psalmist had in mind when he penned a prayer to the Lord God, “Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.” (Psalm 94:21-22) This is what life is like under an immoral government. Laws are passed, which run contrary to God’s Word. Disobedience toward God is legalized and encouraged. Immoral and corrupt behavior becomes rampant in government and across the nation. The sick, poor, widows, orphans and already marginalized communities become victims of sinful leadership.

And who is the enemy to this kind of corrupt government? The righteous. Those who seek to do what is right, wise and good no matter the cost. Officials band together to silence these righteous voices. Why? Because they shine the light on their corrupt deeds. Their words of truth and the gospel they preach, exposes the darkness. Therefore, they are condemned. There is no justice for them in the courts of men, and they are harassed at every turn by the powers over them.

How shall the righteous remnant live in such a time? The writer of the Psalm goes on, “But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.” (Ps. 94:22) A stronghold is where one goes for protection. A rock of refuge is a place of safety. These images communicate who God is to those who trust in Him. In a time when depraved men rule, godly people go to the Lord God and His Son, as their rescuer. It does not mean He will remove all forms of pain, suffering and injustice. Actually, in evil times, it will increase. But what does God promise His children? His presence. He will be with us. And He also promises to supply our needs and deliver us from the tempter’s snares.

Moreover, God promises to deal with our adversaries, “He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness . . .” (Ps. 94:23) The vengeance of God through Jesus will come on those who rebel against Him and attack His chosen ones. At first, He is patient with His enemies, providing them a chance to trust Him, but if they refuse, judgment will come. Such was the case with Pharaoh.

Eventually, God sent Moses to rescue Israel. Through him, God warned evil Pharaoh many times, but he rejected God’s mercy. Therefore, with a strong arm, God led His people out of Egypt through the greatest exodus in history. Pharaoh pursued, but his army was wiped out. God destroyed the hard-hearted enemy of His people.

In these evil days, where sinful leaders occupy seats of power, let us persist in doing good, being voices of truth and sharing heaven’s good news. Our trust and hope is in Jesus, who has risen from the dead. For He has conquered the evil which rulers pedal onto their citizens, and is more powerful than any demonic forces leading them. (Photo from Lightstock)

A prayer for you – “Father in heaven, lift our eyes off the evil rulers of our day. For they are mere mortal men. Fix our eyes heavenward. Let our hope be in you, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Jesus name. Amen.”

The Vanishing of America’s Decency

"Today, America is an amoral nation. There are no firm standards of right and wrong or good and bad. Instead, corruption is expected and rewarded. Evil is framed by statute and applauded. Violence is supported and justified. Deceitfulness is fostered and defended."

When you scan the moral landscape of American culture, how would you judge it to be? Isaiah the Prophet, a spiritual leader in days long gone, was a student of the moral condition of his nation.  He wrote, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.” (Isaiah 59:14-15)

What a poetic, yet accurate denunciation he made of his nation. Does this resemble America? Has justice turned back in our nation? Has truth stumbled in our public sector? Does the person who no longer does evil make himself prey? Is the character of our society known more by virtuousness or unscrupulousness, especially among the leaders who have cultural influence?

Truth indeed has stumbled in America’s public square, while decency and honesty are no longer welcomed in its borders. The upright virtues America’s founding fathers laid, also provided the foundation for truth in all spheres of our society. Today, we are an amoral nation. There are no firm standards of right and wrong or good and bad. Instead, corruption is expected and rewarded. Evil is framed by statute and applauded. Violence is supported and justified. Deceitfulness is fostered and defended.

What Isaiah said has become a reality for our nation, “uprightness cannot enter.” Meaning personal integrity is not invited. Truthfulness is silenced. Rightful justice is absent. And the one who walks away from corruption, violence and deceitfulness is vilified, becoming a danger to themselves.

We are a people that have sunk to a moral low, “For our sins testify against us.” (Is. 59:12) God is not blind, for it is written “The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.” (Is. 59:15) Who will pray for America while we are in this morally destitute condition? Will the Lord find anyone on their knees praying to Him for His saving power to sweep across our land? His judgment is coming, getting nearer every day. The Scriptures say, “According to their deeds, so will he repay.” (Is. 59:18)

And sometimes God repays rebellious nations through His appointed judgements, which is meant to humble them, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-15)

Is it too late, is there divine mercy available for our nation? Read what God Himself says, “‘And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,’ declares the Lord.” God is looking for a faithful remnant, who will come out from among the lawless and live for Him. He has sent His Son to be their Redeemer. Through Jesus, He promises to be their God and they will be His people. And this remnant of the redeemed can be the means for a great spiritual awakening to descend on America. (Photo taken by #MaxGuliani)

A prayer for you – “God of truth and justice, our nation is in desperate need of you. In past days, we have seen you move mightily on our land. Do it again O God! Raise up a faithful remnant to intercede for America and live holy lives before the godless masses. The evil one and his forces will not win. Jesus, you are Lord. Christ, you are King. You are the Victor! Save us O God! In Jesus name. Amen."

A City's Fateful Clash with God

"Are we any better than Sodom and Gomorrah?  This is a sobering historical tale of warning about the judgment of God, which is coming on the whole world. And only those who respond to His saving grace and mercy will be spared."

There was once a valley in the land of Israel that was beautiful and fertile, teeming with people and life. But today if you go and see it, it is a barren valley. Nothing grows there. No one lives there. This is a tale of a city that once occupied that valley – Sodom.

History’s most well-known citizen of Sodom was a man called Lot. He was the nephew of a famous man, Abraham. When Lot decided to move his family there, he unwisely moved them into a grossly immoral and violent city. It is written about the area, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” (Genesis 12:13) This prompted people who knew of the city to pray to the Lord God against Sodom’s evil ways. The Lord heard their prayers, but the evil was so immense, God in His wisdom and justice, chose to destroy Sodom, and other nearby cities that were just as depraved. However, before bringing His judgment He was willing to spare the cities, if any upright citizens could be found; but there were none. In God’s mercy though, he rescued Lot and his daughters. His wife nearly escaped as well, but she looked back in affection for the city and her life was lost.

There were two angels disguised as common men who came to lead them out. When they did, the men of the city surrounded Lot’s home, and demanded to engage in repulsive things with them. They would not heed Lot’s urging to stop. Finally, the angels exerted their spiritual powers to blind the men so they could leave Sodom. And when they did, the anger of God poured out on Sodom, Gomorrah, and three other cities in the valley. They were all completely destroyed. So severe that nothing could ever live there again.

The true and stunning saga of Sodom has provided an illustration of consequences for those who persist in engaging in deviant sexual activities, “. . . just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7) Additionally, the people in the cities were a picture of the eternal fate of those who arrogantly stay on their own lawless course and refuse to follow God’s ways, “. . . by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes [God] condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly . . .” (2 Peter 2:6)

This is a sobering historical tale of warning about the judgment of God, which is coming on the whole world. And only those who respond to His saving grace and mercy will be spared, just as Lot and his daughters were.

Is our world any better than Sodom and Gomorrah? We give our bodies to one another for personal pleasure, deliberately ignoring God’s standards. We use, and sometimes abuse, others to satisfy our selfish lusts. Adults prey upon our little ones for a moment of gross enjoyment, while destroying their innocence for a lifetime. We salivate over images that excite our sexual senses, like animals having meat dangled before us. Our egotistical passions lead us along as our masters, delivering a guilty conscience and feelings of shame. Even so, we bury the truth of what testifies against us and do it again with no fear of God, nor of consequences.

Parent. Grandparent. Politician. Preacher. Church member. Neighbor. Friend. No matter who we are, there should be no pride in this, but only shocking embarrassment. What madness!

But praise God. Just as He showed mercy to Lot, so He is willing to show mercy to us, and not treat us as we deserve. If only we will humble ourselves before God, confess our wrongs and turn from our sinful path, He will deliver us. Because Jesus died and rose again, deliverance is possible.  (Photo by Michael D on Unsplash)

A prayer for you – “O Lord, save us from ourselves! We have yielded to our lustful passions at great cost. Forgive us for what we have done. We plead for your mercy. Deliver us. Set us free from what has enslaved us. In Jesus name. Amen."