Between A Rock and A Hard Place

 

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.”    Exodus 14:19-20  NKJV

Most of us are familiar with the expression, “caught between a rock and a hard place”.  I think that expression could accurately describe what the children of Israel were feeling when they looked at the Red Sea before them, and the Egyptian army behind them.  One way or another I think everyone has, at one time or another, encountered a situation much like this in their lives.  Coming to the realization that you can’t go back, but certainly troubled and uncertain about what the future holds can be more than a little unsettling.  At this point in time, it would seem that many in the body of Christ feel we as a Church are in just that position.

The truth is, I can completely understand that because much of what I am hearing and reading from other believers surrounds the persecution we are facing and a very uncertain future before us.  As I thought about where we are this past week, it seemed the comparison of where we find ourselves and where the Israelites found themselves at the Red Sea was inevitable.  So I spent some serious time considering the similarities and thought I would share just a few of my thoughts with you today with the hope that you might feel encouraged about our future.

The Relationship Changed

“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; “come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.”  Exodus 1:8-11  NKJV

Many forget that in the beginning, the Israelites were not slaves in Egypt.  The Pharaoh of Joseph’s time was friendly towards them, but when a new king arrived on the scene, (sound familiar?) they were perceived as a threat and began to be persecuted.  For the past four years it would be fair to say that believers have had a very special and supportive relationship with those in power, but in all honesty, it has already become apparent that the future for those who choose to believe in God is going to change dramatically.

God’s People Cried for Deliverance

“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”  Exodus 2:23-25  NKJV

If anything, the current situation we have found ourselves in has produced what many consider to be an unprecedented increase in prayer and supplication to our Father in heaven.  The events of the past year have served to remind the body of Christ of the importance of prayer and going before God with our concerns while relying on Him to provide that which we need.  I am especially encouraged to hear that many are not only expecting the rapture of the Church, but actively praying for our deliverance.  Fortunately we as believers know that just as God heard the groaning of the Israelites, He also chose to answer their prayers.

God Delivers His People

“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”  Exodus 14:13-14  NKJV

Right now under the present circumstances, just like the children of Israel in Egypt, the Church finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place.  The world is becoming increasing hostile towards us and unfortunately our own nation appears to be following suit.  The Word of God tells us that this world is going to be judged for her sins, so this is where we find ourselves today; persecuted from behind with the coming judgment in front.  Fortunately for the Church, Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, will save us from the coming wrath by way of the rapture of the Church.

God Judges the Wicked

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.”   Exodus 14:26-28  NKJV

I have often been asked if I believe we as believers will be able to watch what happens on earth during the tribulation from our home in Heaven with our Lord.  I really have no idea but I suspect that we will.  God allowed the children of Israel to watch the sea return to destroy their enemies, I believe, to show them He keeps His promises to not only to deliver but to righteously judge.  The cry of God’s people throughout history has always been; “why do the evil prosper?”, so to actually witness His divine judgment seems appropriate.  Again, I don’t know that we will see Him judge but I do know we have His promise that He will.

So while we feel caught in the middle, the truth is that we are close to hearing the call to come home and spend eternity with our Lord. As we eagerly wait for that moment, may we all remember to give thanks to God for His gift of salvation to us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today.  Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him.  You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;

 

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

 

Keep watching.

 

Feeling Uncomfortable?

 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”    Philippians 1:21-24  NKJV

 

Of all the emotions available for us to experience, I believe one of the most desirable is simply feeling comfortable in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.  The unfortunate reality right now, though, seems to be quite the opposite of that.  In fact, from what I have read and heard from fellow believers, it would seem that although the entire world finds itself at present in a very uncomfortable place, the body of Christ seems to be experiencing an even greater share of discomfort.  I would suggest that this is simply a result of the knowledge that this world is not our home, and we as believers are anticipating the deliverance promised of spending eternity with the Father in heaven.

 

While I and many others feel that the rapture is certainly close, the fact remains we are still here which means we as a body still have a purpose to fulfill.  It has become obvious in the past year, and even in the past few weeks that this is becoming more and more difficult as Christians are being called out and the beliefs we share as a body are coming under attack and labeled as extremist.  Remaining faithful to the Word in difficult times, especially as we see the day approaching, is proving to be a very uncomfortable place, yet it isn’t a new one as you can see from the passage above.

 

I expect that most believers who have spent time reading and studying the Word have favorite stories or individuals that they either relate to or use as inspiration.  One person I especially seem to relate to is the apostle Paul.  It took a while for me to figure it out but in the end I decided that one of the biggest reasons I enjoy studying his life and letters is that just like him, I struggle.  Now in truth, I think it’s probably a given that we all could say that, for, in all honesty, we all struggle at times trying to live a godly life in an ungodly world.  So today, especially in light of where the world seems to be going in a hurry, I thought we would look at this passage Paul wrote to the church at Phillipi.

 

I can’t tell you the numbers of people I have talked to lately that see eternity with Jesus as not just something to look forward to, but to earnestly desire.  Paul makes his feelings very clear when he says that “to die is gain”.  To many, that might seem like he is looking to take the easy way out but he also makes the point that; “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor”.  Now at first glance we might all agree that this simply describes what we all feel at times but Paul takes it a little further when he reveals he is “hard-pressed between the two”.

 

That particular phrase in the Greek is actually translated from just one word, “synechō,”, which means:  “to hold together, i.e. to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy:—constrain, hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng”.  The idea Paul is trying to convey is that this is not just a simple “wish” to be somewhere else, but a desire so strong that it produces a physical struggle which affects his whole life.  So consider this; if Paul is someone we should look to as an example, could there be something wrong in our lives if we don’t feel the same way?

 

I think a clue to answering that question comes from Paul’s choice of words when he says he wants to “depart”.  That word in the Greek is analýō, which literally means “to break up, or depart”.  In Paul’s time, this word was used primarily by three different groups of people, those being sailors, soldiers, and farmers.  Now if that sounds curious, let me explain.  Sailors would use this word when they untied the ropes holding their boat to the dock when they were ready to set sail for another port.  Soldiers on the other hand, used it when they were breaking camp and preparing to move to another site.  Farmers would also use this word at the end of the day when they removed the yoke from whatever animal they were using to do the work.

 

This last example is especially relevant in that our Lord Jesus Christ also used it as an analogy to encourage us as believers.

 

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30  NKJV

 

Just like Paul, we know the time will come when our yoke is lifted, we will cast off the lines holding us here, and we will pack up and move to our permanent home.  Yet when he wrote these words, Paul was still here on earth and understood there was a reason.  As strong as his desire to be with the Lord was, he knew there was still work to be done and he was the one God wanted to use for that purpose.  As he told the church at Phillipi, “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”  Paul was willing to put his desire on hold for as long as it was necessary to fulfill the work God had for him.

 

As believers, we should all understand that we are here in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in whatever way He has chosen for us to do so.  The mark of a committed believer is the willingness to put their own desires on hold and put the needs of others first.  Paul will go on to say this in the next chapter.

 

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."   Philippians 2:3-4  NKJV

 

When Paul revealed his struggle between his desire to depart and his willingness to stay, he also said “yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.”  The reasoning behind this statement is Paul’s acknowledgment that it was not his decision to make, but God’s.  When I have had the opportunity to talk with others who share Paul’s desire to depart I always tell them this; if you are still here then God has something for you to do.  I previously asked the question if we don't share these same feelings as Paul, is there something wrong with us?  As believers, I believe we should all have this same attitude Paul had, and if not, ask ourselves the question "are we too comfortable in this life"?  I think if anything, recent events have made life for many of us very uncomfortable and it would seem the consensus is that it is not going to get better but worse.

 

My personal feeling is that as believers we should all share this struggle of Paul’s.  The more we know about heaven should certainly affect what we think about our life here on earth.  As this world seems to be rapidly spiraling downward, our desire should naturally spiral upward.  The rapture for the believer is not a departure, but an arrival.  While many believe that 2021 will prove to be the time of our departure from this world, until God decides to take us home we should share Paul’s desire to do whatever work God has for us while we are still here, no matter how uncomfortable it might prove to be.

 

If you are reading this today and your desire is to spend eternity in heaven, but you have never made the decision to accept the gift of salvation God has offered you by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, I urge you to do it today.   You can do that by simply asking Him to make you one of His own by praying a prayer like this.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

 

"And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:30-31  NKJV

 

Keep watching.

What Happened?

“For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’”  Jeremiah 30:11  NKJV

I came across this article while studying for this weeks blog and I liked it so much I decided to share it with you today.  The author addresses perfectly the questions many of us have had in the past couple of months, and I believe what he says is vitally important for us as a body moving forward.

America-What Happened?  From Failed Prophecies to Collapse   

by Shane Idelman

Turmoil, chaos, and confusion are running rampant, and that’s an understatement. Those in the charismatic community are wondering how the “prophets” missed it, and conservative Christians are asking, “Why did God allow this election to end like this?”

First, we must realize that no one knows exactly why God does what He does. I rest in the fact that His sovereignty is my ultimate security. The Bible says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

Unless it’s clearly revealed in His Word, we can easily run into trouble when we try to figure out God’s will, and especially when we expect His will to be a reflection of our own. This is where I think some of the prophetic voices missed it—they prophesied what they “felt” versus what God was intending. They prophesied what appeared in their own view to be the best plan for America, but God has other plans. Add to this the celebrity status that was building in the lives of many well-known voices, and the danger of missing God’s actual purpose is even greater. All of us must guard our hearts and say like John the  Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Secondly, haven’t most of us been saying for decades that America is ripe for judgment? And how does God often judge nations? He uses foreign enemies from without and allows corruption and rot from within. Many in our land are echoing Jeremiah when he asked, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?” (12:1), but when we consider the unmasked hatred of all things godly, should we really be surprised?

Again, I don’t know God’s plans perfectly, but it seems that America reached the tipping point. Let’s be very clear: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both” (Dwight D. Eisenhower). We lost our moral compass a long time ago. Historically, we know that God judged those nations who continually tolerated sin; wrong choices have devastating national consequences. Arnold Toynbee, who wrote  A Study of History in 1961, said, “Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state America is in today.” And that was written decades ago. What would he say now?

Thirdly, as much as I would like godly people in positions of leadership, from Mike Pompeo to Ben Carson, the state of the church in America should be our primary concern. We are a representative government, which means that those in power reflect the people who voted for them. How can we expect godly leadership to be elected by a lost citizenry, and the fault there (and the remedy as well) lies squarely with the church.

The church as a whole has become comfortable—too comfortable. All-night prayer meetings have been exchanged for all-night Netflix binges. Powerful worship services where the Spirit of God is moving have been turned into 60-minute programs designed to entertain rather than convict. Pastors are measuring success by “likes” and “followers” rather than Christlikeness and following Him. As I said in a recent article, The church must reset. It’s painfully obvious that most churches do not model themselves after the church that Christ commissioned. If America has any hope of rediscovering its moral compass, it will begin with a revived church fearlessly proclaiming the truth in the power of the Spirit. And that will come at a price.

Persecution Is the Norm

Persecution has been the prevailing atmosphere for Christians since Jesus walked the earth. He both warned and comforted His disciples when He said to them, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As a matter of fact, the Pilgrims fled persecution and landed on the shores of America in 1620. In many areas of the world, persecution is a part of life. Children born into persecution are raised knowing that their commitment to Christ could cost them everything, and that understanding brings a purity and power to their testimony that we are lacking in our land of comfort and convenience.

When this reality hits America (we are merely tasting the firstfruits of what is to come, I believe), few will be prepared for it. America has experienced the blessing and protection of God, but America has turned its back on God, and we are starting to see Him remove His blessing and protection. As was the case multiple times in Israel’s history, we have become self-absorbed, self-sufficient, lazy, and lethargic—our prosperity has been a double-edged sword. When Israel drifted, the prophets would call them back. And God will raise up prophetic voices today—not soothing voices but voices “crying in the wilderness.” The sooner we listen, repent, and become doers of the Word the sooner we’ll see revival.

A Rude Awakening May Bring a Great Awakening

As much as we wanted an administration that is less hostile to Christ and His bride, could it be that God is giving us a rude awakening in order to usher in a great awakening? In studying past revivals, we can see that they were birthed in travail—prayer was the heartbeat of the saints. Talk of holiness and the things of God were commonplace. There was a desperate recognition of our own sinfulness and an insatiable hunger for God that we rarely see today. But now, under this new pressure, we see the refining hand of God at work. My wife and I were very encouraged that so many people showed up for our worship service on January 6th. The hunger for God was evident. Tribulation is a great magnet that draws us to the Savior.

Keep in mind that I’m saying all of this as a proud American who loves the gift of freedom and prosperity that God has given us to steward. Interestingly enough (although I can’t locate the exact paper trail), my family tradition holds that my maternal lineage can be traced to Peregrine White, the first baby born on the Mayflower in Cape Cod Bay. My great-grandma would also tell us about our connection with the Methodist circuit riders of long ago. But my duty to God must be greater than my duty to country. As Christians, we have dual citizenship. We have a responsibility to both, with God’s kingdom as the priority.

So yes, we are in disarray right now, but I truly believe that this can lead to a true  awakening if we once again place our hope  in Him and remember Paul’s words, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Stop focusing on what happened, and start focusing on what you can do.  

https://shaneidleman.com/2021/01/13/america-what-happened-from-failed-prophecies-to-collapse/

Keep Watching.