Today is a day of hope for many as our new President, Donald
Trump, takes office.
Donald Trump was never supposed to become the president of
the United States. He was considered a clown, a blowhard and
an entertainer with no political expertise. He was opposed by
Republicans, Democrats, and the media. In fact, he was given
no chance of winning the presidency.
But against all odds, he went on to be victorious on November
8, 2016. When many of us went to bed on that evening, we
doubted he would be the next president. I know I was sleeping
soundly when my wife came in and told me that Mr. Trump
had won Wisconsin. As I was falling back to sleep, I thought
he might really win. On Wednesday morning, I learned that
his victory in Pennsylvania had put him over the top in the
electoral tally.
We might ask, “Why did Donald Trump win the presidency?”
It seems that Mr. Trump latched onto themes that resonated
with the American people. He promised to make America
great again. Why would people latch onto this promise?
Because many people feel that America has lost its greatness
and unless we turn from the path we are on national greatness
will be lost forever.
It is my hope that the new President, the Congress and the
Cabinet can make some progress toward restoring many of the
values that have made our country truly great for the last two
hundred years. Our greatness over that time has come about
because of God’s grace and mercy extended to our land.
Greatness can only be regained as we turn to the God of the
Bible. The prophet Joel spoke of the need for a return to God
and God’s mercy, “But even now," says the Lord, "repent
sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and
mourning. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing
your clothes is not enough." Come back to the Lord your God.
He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his
promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.” (Joel
2:12-13).
One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was not
renowned for being overly religious when he took office.
However, the magnitude of being president as the nation was
divided in Civil War drove President Lincoln to turn to God in
a way he had not done in his earlier life. I believe that if our
president and other leaders turn to God then we can turn things
around. But will our leaders and our nation humble
themselves before God and seek his wisdom in the years
ahead?
President Trump faces a divided nation similar in many ways
to the time before the Civil War. There was no reconciliation
between the aggrieved parties in 1860 and it seems to be a
most formidable challenge to heal the breaches that exist in
2017. Healing the breaches in the present day are especially
formidable because there no longer seems to be a fixed
standard of right and wrong. Most sadly, if decisions are made
that are in harmony with God and His word the outcome will
likely be outrage among many in our land.
In Paul’s time, the Roman Emperors reigned supreme and
during the last part of his ministry, Nero ruled. Nero was an
abominable ruler and yet Paul requested prayers for him in 1
Timothy 2:1-4: “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”
Paul gives us good instruction in regard to how we should
pray for the new president. Mr. Trump faces a formidable
challenge ahead of him. Not only should we pray for all men,
but we should pray that God would make it possible for us to
“lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence.”
We can be thankful this Sabbath day that we worship a God
who will be with us regardless of how things work out in the
political world.
Have a pleasant Sabbath,
Gary Smith
Showing posts with label President. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2017
Friday, November 4, 2016
Truth Is Fallen In The Street
The prophet Isaiah was inspired to record for us the spiritual
condition of the people of Israel.
A passage that is especially applicable to 21st century America
is found in Isaiah 59:13-15, “In transgressing and lying against
the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression
and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of
falsehood. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands
afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot
enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes
himself a prey.”
Consider the issue of truth in light of the current contest for
the presidency of the United States. Each day it seems there
are more lies, denials, and attempts to hide the truth. The saga
that has unfolded with the Hillary Clinton email scandal is a
vivid illustration of what happens when one fails to tell the
truth.
Imagine how sure of a position Mrs. Clinton would be in at
present if when the news of the private email server broke, she
admitted the error and told the truth about what she did. It
would have ended the matter at that point.
Sadly, by lying about the matter, scrubbing the server,
destroying phones and seeking to obliterate the evidence it has
spurred a deeper pursuit of the matter. The process of digging
for the truth has exposed lying on many levels and jeopardized
Mrs. Clinton’s bid for the presidency.
Isaiah points out that the lack of truth among the people of
Israel had reached the point where they were speaking from
the heart when they uttered falsehoods. As lying is a standard
operating procedure, it reaches a point where the truth is no
longer important. Lying is just a means to self-protection,
self-preservation, or the accomplishment one’s selfish desire.
Who cares about the collateral damage that comes from
falsehood?
The collateral damage that stems from lying is that justice and
righteousness, which depend upon truth, are difficult to find.
Justice which should be fundamental to the legal system is not
attainable when lying is widespread. We only have to look at
the F.B.I.’s handling of the email server matter to more fully
understand what Isaiah is talking about.
When a society reaches the level of corruption described by
Isaiah, the person who tells the truth and departs from evil
makes himself a prey or target.
People tend to completely forget that God is quite aware of a
society’s condition. We are given God’s view in Isaiah 59:15-
16, “Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there
was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered
that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought
salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained
Him.”
God sees the falsehoods which contribute to a lack of justice
in our nation.
More importantly, God notes the sorry condition in which a
society finds itself when there is a lack of truth. God in verse
16 notes that “there was no man” who would correct this
problem. In fact, where it says that He “wondered” that there
was no intercessor, it could be translated “He was appalled”
that there was no intercessor.
This verse tells us all we need to know about the election of a
president. No matter who is elected they are not going to
correct the problem of lying. No matter how much enthusiasm
a presidential candidate inspires they do not have the power to
correct such a fundamental problem as truth failing to be a
society’s standard.
Our only hope is referred to in Isaiah 59:20-21, ““The
Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from
transgression in Jacob," says the Lord. “As for Me," says the
Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon
you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not
depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your
descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants'
descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and
forevermore."
In other words, our Redeemer will bring us to repentance,
redeem us from our sins, and God’s words—the truth—will be
in our mouth forevermore.
Happy Sabbath
Gary Smith
condition of the people of Israel.
A passage that is especially applicable to 21st century America
is found in Isaiah 59:13-15, “In transgressing and lying against
the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression
and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of
falsehood. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands
afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot
enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes
himself a prey.”
Consider the issue of truth in light of the current contest for
the presidency of the United States. Each day it seems there
are more lies, denials, and attempts to hide the truth. The saga
that has unfolded with the Hillary Clinton email scandal is a
vivid illustration of what happens when one fails to tell the
truth.
Imagine how sure of a position Mrs. Clinton would be in at
present if when the news of the private email server broke, she
admitted the error and told the truth about what she did. It
would have ended the matter at that point.
Sadly, by lying about the matter, scrubbing the server,
destroying phones and seeking to obliterate the evidence it has
spurred a deeper pursuit of the matter. The process of digging
for the truth has exposed lying on many levels and jeopardized
Mrs. Clinton’s bid for the presidency.
Isaiah points out that the lack of truth among the people of
Israel had reached the point where they were speaking from
the heart when they uttered falsehoods. As lying is a standard
operating procedure, it reaches a point where the truth is no
longer important. Lying is just a means to self-protection,
self-preservation, or the accomplishment one’s selfish desire.
Who cares about the collateral damage that comes from
falsehood?
The collateral damage that stems from lying is that justice and
righteousness, which depend upon truth, are difficult to find.
Justice which should be fundamental to the legal system is not
attainable when lying is widespread. We only have to look at
the F.B.I.’s handling of the email server matter to more fully
understand what Isaiah is talking about.
When a society reaches the level of corruption described by
Isaiah, the person who tells the truth and departs from evil
makes himself a prey or target.
People tend to completely forget that God is quite aware of a
society’s condition. We are given God’s view in Isaiah 59:15-
16, “Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there
was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered
that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought
salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained
Him.”
God sees the falsehoods which contribute to a lack of justice
in our nation.
More importantly, God notes the sorry condition in which a
society finds itself when there is a lack of truth. God in verse
16 notes that “there was no man” who would correct this
problem. In fact, where it says that He “wondered” that there
was no intercessor, it could be translated “He was appalled”
that there was no intercessor.
This verse tells us all we need to know about the election of a
president. No matter who is elected they are not going to
correct the problem of lying. No matter how much enthusiasm
a presidential candidate inspires they do not have the power to
correct such a fundamental problem as truth failing to be a
society’s standard.
Our only hope is referred to in Isaiah 59:20-21, ““The
Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from
transgression in Jacob," says the Lord. “As for Me," says the
Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon
you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not
depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your
descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants'
descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and
forevermore."
In other words, our Redeemer will bring us to repentance,
redeem us from our sins, and God’s words—the truth—will be
in our mouth forevermore.
Happy Sabbath
Gary Smith
Friday, May 13, 2016
When the Righteous Are in Authority, the People Rejoice; But...
On May 3, Donald Trump was victorious in the Indiana primary. The Ted Cruz and John Kasich campaigns each called it quits.
What does this political outcome tell us?
Dr. Michael Brown, on May 4, 2016, published an opinion piece entitled, "Donald Trump the National Enquirer President". His full article appears at the following link: http://barbwire.com/2016/05/04/donald-trump-national-enquirer-president
He begins the article, “It is altogether fitting that Donald Trump became the all-but-certain presidential nominee of the Republican Party on the same day that he cited the ridiculous allegations of the National Enquirer that Ted Cruz’s father, Rafael, had involvement in the assassination of JFK.
“This is not so much an indictment on Trump as it is an indictment on the American people. God could well be giving us exactly what we deserve.”
Dr. Brown then speaks of where we are at as a people, “I have no desire to be right; I do have an intense desire to see America blessed; and I would far rather say, “I was so wrong about Donald Trump,” than say, “I told you so!”
“That being said, it appears today in America that God has given us over to delusion, a phenomenon mentioned several times in the Bible when God takes away a people’s moral and spiritual sensibilities as a judgment on their sin.
“In other words, because people reject Him and His standards, He says, “Go ahead then. Have at it,” further pushing us into our folly.”
Proverbs 29:2 tells us, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” If we look at the conduct of the presidential candidates, it appears there is to be more groaning in our future than rejoicing.
The Apostle Paul spoke of a society’s condition when God is rejected in Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. . . .” Have we been given over to a debased mindset?
Dr. Brown describes our condition, “That seems to be the only way to explain how we are suddenly at the point in America where people are saying there’s nothing wrong with grown men using women’s locker rooms and bathrooms and where states like California have ruled that boys who identify as girls can play on the girls’ sports teams and share their shower stalls and changing areas.
“This is cultural insanity, yet many are too blind to see.
“How else do we explain college students telling a young Caucasian man that if he identifies as a woman, he is; if he identifies as Chinese, he is; if he identifies as a 7-year-old, he is – but if he identifies as 6’ 5” he is not – how else do we explain this unless we have been given over to a spirit of delusion?
“I see the Trump candidacy in the same way.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his blatant, well-documented lying.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his consistent practice of vile character assassination for the purpose of political gain.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his vulgarity and profanity.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his ignorance of critical issues and his complete flip-flopping of major positions.”
The last four points made are they not warning signs about a presidential candidate? And yet no one heeds! Interestingly, we could do a similar analysis of other presidential candidates.
One final quote, “And he has masterfully appealed to American fears and anger – fears of terrorism, fears of economic collapse, anger with the political system, anger with American weakness – to the point that his supporters are looking to him as a quasi-savior figure. Only he can get the job done!
“But in almost any other time in American history, Trump’s negatives would have so outweighed his positives that he would have quickly disqualified himself as a candidate.
“Not today.”
Noting this current situation in regard to American leadership, should we be surprised by what is on the horizon?
The Apostle John was able to see an evil political figure that will arise at the end of the age, “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (Revelation 13:4-7).
As our world unravels, we have the anchor of the Sabbath, which reminds us that the King of kings, and Lord of lords is coming to reign in righteousness (Revelation 19:11).
May God hasten the day.
Gary Smith
What does this political outcome tell us?
Dr. Michael Brown, on May 4, 2016, published an opinion piece entitled, "Donald Trump the National Enquirer President". His full article appears at the following link: http://barbwire.com/2016/05/04/donald-trump-national-enquirer-president
He begins the article, “It is altogether fitting that Donald Trump became the all-but-certain presidential nominee of the Republican Party on the same day that he cited the ridiculous allegations of the National Enquirer that Ted Cruz’s father, Rafael, had involvement in the assassination of JFK.
“This is not so much an indictment on Trump as it is an indictment on the American people. God could well be giving us exactly what we deserve.”
Dr. Brown then speaks of where we are at as a people, “I have no desire to be right; I do have an intense desire to see America blessed; and I would far rather say, “I was so wrong about Donald Trump,” than say, “I told you so!”
“That being said, it appears today in America that God has given us over to delusion, a phenomenon mentioned several times in the Bible when God takes away a people’s moral and spiritual sensibilities as a judgment on their sin.
“In other words, because people reject Him and His standards, He says, “Go ahead then. Have at it,” further pushing us into our folly.”
Proverbs 29:2 tells us, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” If we look at the conduct of the presidential candidates, it appears there is to be more groaning in our future than rejoicing.
The Apostle Paul spoke of a society’s condition when God is rejected in Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. . . .” Have we been given over to a debased mindset?
Dr. Brown describes our condition, “That seems to be the only way to explain how we are suddenly at the point in America where people are saying there’s nothing wrong with grown men using women’s locker rooms and bathrooms and where states like California have ruled that boys who identify as girls can play on the girls’ sports teams and share their shower stalls and changing areas.
“This is cultural insanity, yet many are too blind to see.
“How else do we explain college students telling a young Caucasian man that if he identifies as a woman, he is; if he identifies as Chinese, he is; if he identifies as a 7-year-old, he is – but if he identifies as 6’ 5” he is not – how else do we explain this unless we have been given over to a spirit of delusion?
“I see the Trump candidacy in the same way.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his blatant, well-documented lying.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his consistent practice of vile character assassination for the purpose of political gain.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his vulgarity and profanity.
“Tens of millions of Americans are not put off by his ignorance of critical issues and his complete flip-flopping of major positions.”
The last four points made are they not warning signs about a presidential candidate? And yet no one heeds! Interestingly, we could do a similar analysis of other presidential candidates.
One final quote, “And he has masterfully appealed to American fears and anger – fears of terrorism, fears of economic collapse, anger with the political system, anger with American weakness – to the point that his supporters are looking to him as a quasi-savior figure. Only he can get the job done!
“But in almost any other time in American history, Trump’s negatives would have so outweighed his positives that he would have quickly disqualified himself as a candidate.
“Not today.”
Noting this current situation in regard to American leadership, should we be surprised by what is on the horizon?
The Apostle John was able to see an evil political figure that will arise at the end of the age, “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (Revelation 13:4-7).
As our world unravels, we have the anchor of the Sabbath, which reminds us that the King of kings, and Lord of lords is coming to reign in righteousness (Revelation 19:11).
May God hasten the day.
Gary Smith
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