Many things have happened since God created the heavens and the earth. Mankind is God’s ultimate creation, and we certainly should be grateful. Are we? I don’t think so. Instead of learning from the past, we seem to repeat the same mistakes again and again. Instead of studying prophecy and learning from it, we seem to be doing all we can to bring destruction upon the world. What woe we bring upon ourselves.
History shows us that the psychotic hatred of the Jewish people runs deep; there was no reason for Hitler to have killed so many of God’s chosen people, and the ignorant drive to remove them from their God-given land is insane. People seem to love the darkness of evil.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
The demonic evil that happened on October 7, 2023, can only be attributed to bloodthirsty, demonic, unreasonable hatred. Other insanities include the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, which was pure evil. Then there are the mass attacks on innocent people in malls, stores, schools, or a presidential candidate giving a speech. Sometimes guns are used, and sometimes it’s knives. What have we learned from all of this? Very little.
When will reasonable people stand up and say, “There are only two genders…male and female”? When will parents stop allowing the public school system to brainwash their children? There’s a lot of political double-talk, and it doesn’t take long until the liberal media makes it seem as if good is bad and bad is good. Should that surprise us?
Scripture says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
Even Christians are becoming “woke” and allowing false doctrine to be preached. When we stop honoring God, evil will run amok. A study of the first chapter of Romans will open your eyes to how God views evolution and the punishment for teaching and believing that lie. Woe to us when God is mocked!
Many Christians have taken their eyes off of Jesus and corrupted their hearts with a love for the world. The lust of the flesh and the lure of riches have put the love of the world above the love for our Lord. Is that a gain? I think it’s a loss.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
I think of the Hollywood elite who have “made a pact with the Devil” in order to gain fame and fortune. Woe to them on judgment day. I, for one, will take eternity with Jesus over the riches of this world.
“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!” (Isaiah 5:8).
You just might get rich with money and power, but if your goal is to have riches in this world and you make those riches your god, what have you gained? You might have acres and acres of land, and you may have purchased all of the houses around your land, but you will find yourself very isolated.
“In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant” (Isaiah 5:9).
Not only will you be isolated from other people, but worse than that, you’ll be isolated from God. If you’re blessed with money, use it to glorify God, not yourself.
Where is your joy and pleasure? Do you get up early in the morning to spend time with the LORD, or do you use your time to party? There’s no profit in drinking yourself into a stupor.
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it” (Isaiah 5:11-14).
Are you being held captive by your lifestyle? God loves His people, whether His chosen people, Israel, or those of us who have chosen Him. Christians have been grafted in, and we owe Him a deep debt of gratitude. Therefore, instead of spending our time in the lust of the flesh and the temptations that can entrap us, we need to spend our time rejoicing in the Lord.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
The Lord is at hand. We need to show Him our thankfulness by rejoicing in His love.
As Christians, we need to be very careful about with whom we yoke ourselves. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Our actions will speak louder than anything we can say. If we say “I am a Christian,” but our lifestyle shouts, “I’m of the world,” which statement will people believe? Even fellow Christians will question whether we’re following God or the god of this world.
“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” (Isaiah 5:18-19).
When we spend our time with those who practice sin, it’s easy to step into the ways of the world.
Christians are the most blessed people around. We have hope and joy in the Lord. Our sins are forgiven, and that forgiveness only comes from a repentant heart and the mercy of Jesus. We have no need to be puffed up and proud in our own perception of perfection. We have the example of Jesus, and only He is perfect.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).
It could be that the plans God has for your life aren’t in the strengths you think you have. God knows you deeper than you know yourself.
“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21).
Our sight is very limited. Our decisions and actions are often based upon “What’s in it for me?” but God has plans for us. Greater plans than we have for ourselves. He sees strengths in us that we cannot imagine for ourselves. My husband was a man of many talents, but when he came to know Jesus, none of what he took pride in was what God used. God chose his weakest ability to use for ministry. Because Ron humbled himself before the Lord, he shared his love for Jesus and touched many lives. Let God be your wisdom, and follow His direction in your life. Humbly submit to His will.
Is drinking alcohol a sin? Most pastors will tell the congregation that touching alcohol is a great sin. The truth is, there is no Scripture forbidding a glass of wine. I know many people who take great pride in the fact that they never have had a taste of alcohol. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but it is a matter of pride for them. There are plenty of Scriptures that teach that drunkenness is a sin.
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isaiah 5:22-23).
Alcohol dulls our senses and takes away our discretion. As Christians, our righteousness is only found in Jesus, and nobody can take that away from us. On the other hand, alcohol can make us look like fools.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Alcohol is always the example, but drug use will also compromise our discretion, as well as other points of pride. All sin dishonors God, and we should always endeavor to glorify God in all we do.
Oh, what woe there is when we lean upon our own feelings and self-centeredness. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
If you follow your heart, you will be led astray and fall into sin and woe. Follow Jesus along the path of righteousness, and you will be filled with the joy of the Lord.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
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All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).