“Nineteen Eighty Seven, I had just graduated high school and thought the world was going crazy then, nothing has changed. I’ve stated we were known as generation X, and between nuclear war, global warming and other crazy things, we had no hope, and seems less today. I was not going to the Catholic Church anymore, and felt like what was the point, as it seemed God was not listening. R.E.M. came out with a song, “It’s The End of The World As We Know It” and here are some of the lyrics. “That's great, it starts with an earthquake; Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes; And Lenny Bruce is not afraid; Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn; World serves its own needs; Don't mis-serve your own needs” “And a government for hire and a combat site;; Uh oh, overflow, population, common group; But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself; World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed; Tell me with the Rapture and the reverent in the right, right; You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light; Feeling pretty psyched” It was our anthem at the end of a decade, that began with hostages being held in Iran, and ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. My hope was in the songs of a generation, looking for the answers of a world gone mad. Boy I was premature and ignorant.
As easy as it is to be mad at the world, and the people of the world, we must remember that Jesus came to save everyone of us as we were once lost too. Luke Chapter Nine says,
“When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” ] And they went on to another village.” (NASB)
People have gone from condemning the unvaccinated to the other political party, to foreign leaders and presidents. We as Christians are the worst at judging, because we don’t even share our faith with a lost and dying world. It’s not our job to condemn and pray they die, or make it seem that what is happening in the world is anyone’s fault. God has a plan and it is our privilege to share the message of His love and grace and not to call fire down on people. There is a time and place for everything, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes but it is not for us to determine. Listen to what Solomon says beginning in verse one,
“For everything there is a season, and A MATTER FOR EVERY MATTER UNDER HEAVEN: (ESV) (Emphasis added)
The things are happening and have been happening from the beginning are ordained by God. Solomon continues in verse fourteen after listing all the things there is a time for,
“I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; NOTHING CAN BE ADDED to it, nor anything TAKEN FROM IT. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)
We can’t hope to be whisked out of tribulations and pains in this earthly body, because we don't like them. We can’t change God’s word by adding or removing things to fit our wants and ways. We must be out making disciples, sharing the truths of the gospel to a lost, broken, and angry generation. I was mad at God for the things I had experienced as a child, and I was mad at life because I didn’t have what my friends had, but looking back, I was better off not going down those roads of self. It’s easy to think we deserve better, or think why do the leaders and rich not care or struggle, because they’re “bad.” But it’s not my job to judge anyone, only give them the truth and let the Holy Spirit convict their hearts, like He did mine. Solomon finishes in verse seventeen,
“I said in my heart, GOD WILL JUDGE the righteous and the wicked, for there is A TIME FOR EVERY MATTER AND FOR EVERY WORK.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)
My hope turned from music of a lost generation, from anthems of angst and lost hope to what Psalm Fifty One says,
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (ESV)
This was David after committing adultery and murder, where he took it upon himself to be judge and jury, and God humbled him. You may have not committed adultery, murder but have you hated your brother or neighbor? John reminds us in First John two beginning in verse nine,
“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (ESV)
Who are my brothers? Anyone who is walking on this planet. God doesn’t look at sin like we do, or the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart. When Jesus was eating with the tax collectors, they were considered the filth and worse of Jesus time, but listen to what Jesus said in Mark Two beginning in verse fifteen,
“And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “WHY DOES HE EAT with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, HE said to them, “Those WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED OF A PHYSICIAN, but those who are sick. I CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS.”” (ESV) (Emphasis added)
So my question is, with everyone running around scared and what seems crazy, where are you running to? Man’s answers and plans that will fade, sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, that will only leave you empty, sad and confused? We are all “sick” and need a Physician, and His Name is Jesus. My prayer is that you run to God, and realize this all was written thousands of years ago, but spoiler alert Jesus already won! David knew he had messed up and if you read all his Psalms, you’ll see his repentant heart, and he wrote in Psalm Twenty Seven,
“I’m asking the LORD for only one thing. Here is what I want. I want to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. I want to look at the beauty of the LORD. I want to worship Him in his temple.” (NIRV)
I want to be like David in that though I’m a sinner, I am glad that someone cared enough to share the gospel truth with me. I am not saying that you have to agree with ones lifestyle or beliefs, and definitely not to go and hang out with them at their place of worship, but how will they hear, if no one is sharing? It may be the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine! How about you, do you know Jesus, I mean the real Jesus, if not it’s okay, He’s waiting for all who will come to Him, but do come before it’s too late!” Jose Barajas
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