(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
Discernment is the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that are not obvious or straightforward. Wikipedia
Biblical discernment: In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically. John MacArthur
In these present days of confusion and deception about what is happening in the world, I think it is worthwhile to make a distinction between “discernment” and “Biblical discernment.”
Mankind’s current thoughts, actions and behavior signal a huge shift in what has, subjectively, been considered normal in the past.
In order to have any merit, discernment must be based on empirical truth.
As God’s Word makes clear, deception will run wild at the end of the age.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
When one considers the future of the world in terms of what will be the inevitable result of this behavioral shift, it causes a great sense of anxiety for the many who are watching these developments and who are not grounded in the Word of God.
Only by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior through repentance and confession can one receive the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, resulting in the peace of “Biblical discernment” that will lead to understanding of these times in which we live.
The “peace that surpasses all understanding” is the Gift from God that slows the heart rate, calms the nerves, and enables rational action and reaction.
This Gift of God is the Bible, the only source of discernment and an anchor of rational thinking when the turbulence of these days threatens to overwhelm.
In other words, unbelievers, while they may be brilliant, educated and able to articulate their position well, that position is still limited to only “worldly discernment.”
This human-limited discernment results in the rapidly growing unease among those who have, thus far, rejected Jesus Christ.
“There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).
In the Word of God, we are given insight into the reason that there is such a marked difference between these two defining characteristics of discernment.
Biblical discernment is directly linked to Biblical understanding and wisdom.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10).
The Word of God also makes it clear why the wisdom and discernment contained in God’s Word is absent in the unbelieving world.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Regardless of the optimism of so many unsaved people that things will “work out” or the world leaders will “get things under control,” etc., the Word of God clearly indicates that these human machinations will eventually fail (as they always have) and even result in the worst period in human history precisely because they have rejected the One and Only God.
Bible prophecy, with its record of 100% accuracy, indicates an outcome to human history that is the opposite of man’s misplaced and ungrounded optimism.
These Words of Jesus confirm this Truth in speaking of the end of human history related to man’s continuing attempts to act outside of God’s Will.
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
The Truth of God’s Word and the understanding of it by studying and believing it cancels out the possibility of the Christ-following believer being deceived about the “signs of the times” and the end of days we see unfolding around us.
“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
The final Book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, portrays the final outcome of human existence. This present world will indeed be saved for a time (but not all its inhabitants), but this “saving” does not come about by any government, king or man-centered, perceived savior arising to “save the day.”
It comes about by Jesus Christ returning in judgment of the world precisely because of man’s rejection of His Saving Grace.
Revelation also foretells the ultimate destruction of this world due to its permeation by sin. It also reveals God’s intention to create new sin-free heaven and earth for those who have chosen to humble themselves and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1).
The majority of humans will refuse to repent and so bring about their own destruction, even when conditions in the world are beyond horrible.
“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory” (Revelation 16:8-9).
The utopian promises by world leaders have always resulted in massive genocide over vast areas of the planet.
Look up all the historical records of mass genocide and see for yourself, IF you can find a history book or other source that has not been “updated.”
It will be well along that path yet again when the Lord Jesus returns to salvage what will be left of it.
“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).
Now to the crux of this article.
Nowhere else in the world has the reality of man’s failure to govern himself been clearer than right here in America. With the purest form of human government based on God’s Precepts and Laws that has ever been established in the entire world as a solid foundation, humans have once again been clearly revealed as their own worst enemy.
Greed, money worship, etc.; the list is very long but not new to humankind.
Sin. Yep. There’s that word again. It is what it is.
God gave the world America, and it has been squandered for the same old tired and discouraging reasons.
History repeats itself.
Man’s nature continues to spiral downward.
No matter where you live in this world or what your current “belief system” may be, you do not have to go down with it. God has stretched out His hands to provide a way to salvation and eternal life.
His Name, as I suspect you already know in your inmost being, is Jesus Christ.
And Him alone.
If you have a Bible, please open it.
If you do not, please acquire one (while you still can) and open it.
There will come a day when a Bible (The Word of God) will be MIA.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it“ (Amos 8:11-12)
To understand the Savior and His love for you, begin with Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.
Before you begin, ask the Holy Spirit of God to show you what He wants you to know.
If you earnestly mean to know the Truth, He will know, and He will open your eyes and your heart.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God–The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com