The Judgment of God?

The Judgment of God?

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Worldwide political turmoil, chaos, earthquakes, wildfires, catastrophic weather patterns—are these the judgment of God for the wickedness in our world?  Perhaps.  They are, at the least, a wake-up call.  Who are the sleepers that need to arise?

Although in ages past, the prophets warned of God’s judgment against the world, they also warned His people about their impending judgment and declared it was time for them to awaken, to step out of their sin and into His righteousness.

When judgment does come, where does it begin?  (1 Peter 4: 17) “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

We have experienced much repentance for the sins of our nation during the past months.  However, many of us have had our eyes set only on the sins of “the other guys.” But what about our own sins, the sins of the born-again, Spirit-filled, Bible believing Christians? 

On the day after Palm Sunday, Jesus cleansed His own house.  He cleansed the Temple.  If we want a turn-around in our nation and in the world, we believers must first cleanse our own temples, for we are the temple of God indwelt by His Holy Spirit.  The spirits of evil will be defeated in our nation, when Christians step out of darkness and into the light.  The spirit of abortion will be broken when Christians stop having abortions.  The spirit of substance abuse will be broken when Christians stop abusing substances.  The spirit of sexual sin will be broken when Christians stop practicing sexual sin.  The spirit of lying will be broken when Christians stop lying.

It was at the dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem that the Lord spoke to Solomon saying, (2 Chronicles 7: 14-15) "if My people who are called by My name will 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.”

Later God spoke through the prophet Isaiah: (Isaiah 60: 1-3:) “Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles (unbelievers) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”

Jesus said to His followers, (Matthew 5:13-15) "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

The world must see Jesus in our countenance and in our behavior as well as in our words.

People of God, reveille has sounded.  It is time to rise and shine and proclaim His glory.