Trouble Seeing Clearly

This is a continuation of “Another Four Letter Word,” Judgment.

What I find fascinating about what I’m quoting here from Wayne Jacobsen’s book The Naked Church, this was published in 1987, and in particular what I have already shared in my previous post about the dark clouds of judgment hanging ominously over America as Wayne related the story, could easily relate to the current financial collapse happening this hour in America. *

Further with what Wayne had to say; “Why didn’t I want God to judge the earth? Doesn’t judgment force people to see the emptiness of life without God? Doesn’t it end the deceptions that men hold over one another, rewarding the truly righteous and exposing those who have only pretended to be so? Doesn’t it restore justice and freedom to the oppressed and invite people to return to God?
Of course I wanted all those things, but I feared what it might take to bring them to pass. If God’s judgment took the form of an economic depression, my money would become worthless like everyone else’s, and I would risk having to cope with scarcity. If he judged us by the invasion of a wicked foreign power, I too would loose my freedom. And if a plague swept us, I would be involved with people tormented by it.
I was face-to-face with the truth. My priorities were vested in the material world as much as people around me who did not love God. Theologically I valued my walk with Jesus more than any other possession I had, but the others rated such a close second that I doubt whether anyone could have told the difference. I perceived God’s blessings primarily in material terms, and I didn’t want him to do anything that would put those at risk.
I had become a Christian materialist, if such people exist-and I don’t think they do except in someone’s mind. In reality, the materialist part always devours the Christian part. You can’t serve two masters.”

I so appreciate the sobriety and transparency of Wayne’s heart here in what he has openly shared.

The Father is the only one capable of knowing the truth about our motives, the attitudes and intents of our hearts; no matter how right the outer actions appear to be. Anything that is not of faith IS sin!
I personally can attest to the goodness of the Father sifting my own heart, lovingly exposing what might appear to be kosher outwardly but twisted on the inside where others can not see.
The true and growing knowledge of my Father’s love is freeing me to embrace his continued loving but firm correction. I so desire to be established in Truth not just in an outer appearance but inwardly, so whatever it takes, Lord your will be done, bring on the judgment!

Rich

As a foot note to * my wife posed a question to a good friend of ours living in the states regarding the current financial red alert and its impending continued dark and stormy weather getting even darker.
My wife asked; “Just wondering what you were thinking re: this Wall Street crisis. I overheard a newscaster last night saying something to the effect that if people thought this was strictly a U.S. problem, they were being naive. He said all nations, including China, were facing a similar problem - they were just concealing it better. So what are your thoughts? Do you think this bail-out is just a band-aid solution?”

Our friends reply was’ “It will have some effects on the rest of the world since these SIVs (structured investments vehicles), which are bundles that hold these bad mortgages, were sold off to investment companies, banks and insurers around the world. The US economy still is the consuming customer for the world's goods. So when we get a cold the rest of the world still can get pneumonia.
So in effect, the USA will be bailing out the world. I do think this is just a bandage and more is to come. There are many more mortgages that will reset at the higher interest rates over the next two years so that will bring on Act II and Act lll.
The empire is falling much more quickly than I had expected and His coming is near as the USA is more and more impotent. This sets the stage for that "man of Sin" to be revealed soon after you and I are raptured to "meet Him in the air."