General Articles

Feeling Sorry for God :: By Jim Towers

Published on: by RR7

In the Bible, the creation story is one of cosmic proportions. You might liken it to the movie Star Wars in that there was rebellion against God among His created celestial beings called angels. The rebellious angelic beings were led by a powerful one named Lucifer, whose name meant light. (Although being powerful, he was and is a created being just like us, and we should never lose sight of that fact. Far too many people put Satan on equal footing with God Almighty, the Creator of all things – and therefore live a fearful life or unfruitful life.)

According to the Bible and the writings of Enoch and others whom Jesus referenced often, the angelic beings who abandoned their domain for greener pastures were cast down to earth by Almighty God and allowed to live there temporarily after God had created it. Sometime later, God created man and woman. Satan saw this as an opportunity to foil God’s plan for mankind and enticed them to disobey their creator. He succeeded, and we can see the end result even today.

Today, with prophecy being fulfilled and Israel on the cusp of all-out war with their enemies, infants in America are being aborted, toddlers hacked to death and dragged to the middle of the street by an obviously demon-possessed person (probably in a fit of drug-fueled rage). God has His hands full, and some world leaders still feel they can control a world completely out of control. Good luck with that!

When I watch and hear men proclaim that we are going to turn things around, I know that they don’t know scripture; otherwise, they wouldn’t make such outrageous claims. You would think that people everywhere would be lying face to the ground in repentance, pleading with God for peace and civility, or even a semblance of rationale. God help us.

The Apostle Paul wrote this warning to Timothy as though it were written for the days in which we live.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

“For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was” (2 Timothy 3:1-9).

“The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Now, this may sound crazy, yet there is no other way to say it, but I’m feeling sorry for God; for a God who is loving, kind, benevolent, generous and forgiving. He made everything for our good pleasure; consider the countless varieties of fruit, veggies and other edibles God made for us to enjoy. He made beautiful, lush habitats, verdant green valleys, endless kinds of trees and flowers and plants for our use and amusement. For something else to admire, he created colorful birds of the air and butterflies. Parrots were abundant. Monkeys swung from limb to limb as sloths just hung upside down, crawling ever so slowly on a limb and munching on leaves as they went. The wonder of it all is just too much to comprehend, and he handed it all over to us with open hands saying, “Be fruitful and multiply.”

Things started out on the right foot, but our benevolent God became increasingly alarmed at the propensity man had for sin and disobedience. And so, He had to show mankind His vengeful power to get their attention – and did, but it seldom worked – and only temporarily. The Great Flood was a result as God decided that maybe making man wasn’t such a good idea after all. The Fallen angels mixed with humanity and had flaunted God’s commands, making the earth a cesspool of sin and confusion. Homosexuality was the norm, and debauchery and licentiousness ruled the day. God had to start to repopulate the earth all over again with a godly man named Noah and his immediate family.

Still, though, mankind once again began to make war with one another, to want things that weren’t theirs and to worship gods made by their own hands, things made of clay, wood and stone.

Finally, one man – a true seeker of God – Abraham (Abram) found God, and God began speaking to him.

God (the planner of all things) devised a plan to overturn this travesty into a wonderful victory for those who would receive His free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus – His only begotten Son.

As time passed, Abraham’s prodigy became rebellious too, and since they had the godlike quality of freedom of choice, they saw fit to do things their way. They worshiped images carved in stone, wrought in clay or made of wood. These lifeless deities were ugly and fearsome, and the priests that served them told the followers how and what the manmade images demanded. They often demanded blood, but all demanded fealty. This was done by the father of lies, the murderer, the devil.

Time and again, mankind’s creator had to warn His creation of the folly in disobeying Him, even though His commandments were for their own good. Man, having been made free to pick and choose his own way, got it wrong more often than not. This happened due to leaning on their own understanding. But by now, chosen men of God were beginning to emerge from among the Jewish people. People like Ezekiel, Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha and Daniel began to stand up for God, and God gave them the privilege of viewing and discerning the future of mankind, and it wasn’t good.

And by this time, God realized that mankind truly had a mind of their own. It’s as if in the laboratory of God (Earth), mankind insisted on doing things their way. And God let it be so. Knowing this, He devised a plan to redeem mankind – God in the form of man – “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God….”

YBIC

Jim Towers Write me jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit www.propheticsignsandwonders.com and www.dropzonedelta.com.

Hard Knocks for The Watchman :: By Edwin Tan

Published on: by RR7

(STEEPLECHASE IN SINGAPORE)

The island nation of Singapore is arguably one of the better-off countries in terms of the ongoing pandemic. Australia and New Zealand would certainly squeeze this little red dot if one were to talk about the top spots where encouraging statistics matter – aside from short-lived spikes, the cases of people testing positive for the virus have been near to negligible Down Under!

Still, the figures for Singapore are nothing compared to those in Continental Europe and North America. The worst moments showed up around April last year, triple-digit numbers popping up daily – these were largely in dormitories that housed foreign construction workers. So much so that a brief but lenient lockdown was in force between early April and early June last year. Nothing like the draconian versions in force in Europe and the United States. Takeaways from a host of eateries were still possible, while supermarkets and convenience stores still had quite a lot on the shelves!

A calibrated easing immediately followed. Department stores and other retail outlets opened their doors after a two-month hiatus. Eateries were allowed diners, though in restricted numbers. By August, churches could open for services with an initial tight cap on the number of worshippers. Nevertheless, social distancing was rigidly adhered to, contact-tracing devices such as smartphone applications and tokens were in place. Same with a must for masks outdoors and in enclosed high-density settings. The powers that be were generous where free masks for the population were concerned – these face coverings were not just complimentary but also of superior quality!

By the end of 2020, the prognosis for a convincing turnaround was like music to many ears. As community cases became less frequent and low in number, a heightened sense of confidence flowed through many veins across the land. More relaxations began to take shape at the end of the year and right at the beginning of the new year. Churches could accept a larger congregation. Weddings could be held with a bigger figure in terms of guests. Even the restrictions for diners saw a further easing.

Before long, the air of confidence surged across the country. By the advent of the Lunar New Year, which was in the second week of February, all thoughts about lockdowns were virtually expunged from many psyches. Things were seemingly better by the day, if not the hour. So much so that property prices tested new heights while there was quick money to be made in cryptocurrencies. Beelines were visible in prime shopping malls, the likeness of this being so in eateries with Michelin ratings. Not uncommon were Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches on the thoroughfares – BMW seemed like an understatement!

This exuberance that was carried by a feel-good factor negated the demands of the new normal. The ingredients that made up for this elevated sense of optimism were likened to a fireworks display. Even the World Economic Forum saw it fit to hold their meeting in Singapore versus Davos – all because of a truly convincing backdrop. The streets were not just placid but squeaky clean. Food was plentiful and inexpensive if there was a willingness to forgo luxury. Incredibly, bucking trends that blitzed many nations, “homophobia” could survive without any repercussions. Homosexuality was yet to be officially decriminalized – Section 377A of the country’s Penal Code had not been repealed!

Against the above-said hedonistic atmosphere, the watchman on the wall has his task ahead more than cut out. Any mention of the Blessed Hope would be shouted down with incantations extolling the so-called virtues of the Prosperity Gospel. No one is keen on forgoing the pleasures of the present for the glowing future promised in the Counsel of God. More alarming is the incessant downplay of fast-evolving prophetic events.

They could be practicing Christians or non-Christians, but there is one thing in common that unites them – unquestionable faith in earthly institutions and materialism. All this would inadvertently command more attention than Jesus Christ, who died for all their wrongdoings. There is quite a number that pin their hopes in worldliness to the point of rejecting Biblical truth. A lot of these folk cherish the prospect of passing on ahead of these dreadful occurrences.

I have heard this all too familiar insistence that prophecy in the Bible has little consequence and relevance. A watchman like me would be deemed as an oddball. They probably wonder why I had time for Brent Miller’s Coming Convergence but not a millisecond for Crazy Rich Asians. Even with warp-speed prophetic events happening in other countries, these folk take it that would never cross their paths. They insist that the problem is not just light years away but sensationalized. Really!

There is undoubtedly a sense of peace and safety in concert with that gravy train of seemingly ceaseless prosperity. Would Colossians 3:2 be a turn-off for these folks? “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Reckon it might be so for people who put God on the back burner while celebrating the joys brought about by the love of the world plus the things of the world. Sad to say, I have journeyed at various stages of my life with individuals ingrained with this mindset. I truly have no pleasure when that twinkling of an eye moment sees them left behind to face the worst times in the history of mankind. Rather than tire myself in heated reiteration after saying what has to be said – the problem is beyond my frailties. It is in His hands.

Indeed, time is running out, and these folks do not see it. I can only do so much in the manner of sowing the seeds. Prayer in all earnestness would make a difference.

At the time of writing, there have been dramatic reversals. Late in April, an outbreak of the virus occurred in one of the nation’s big hospitals. This was shortly followed by another one at the international airport. Since then, community infections have spiked, enough to warrant tighter restrictions that came into force on May 16th – takeaways only once more as dining was forbidden. Just days later, the World Economic Forum decided to postpone their upcoming meeting. In the light of this worsening situation, people are asking a lot of questions. What next?

I could be that loner oddball in this country, but I ask no questions because I know the answers. They only come about when God comes first, above every other created thing. My soul yearns for many of my fellow countryfolk to walk this path that enables them to escape the upcoming horrors.

Maranatha

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com