Encouragement, For A Strange Time …

I have been asking the LORD for a Word of Encouragement.

Our world is changing, and as my friend Tony Koretz says, the change lately has been at “Warp Speed”. In the space of a few weeks, so many familiar things have been shut down; Sports, Restaurants, many, many jobs, public gatherings, and even churches have been closed.

So many of us just want to get back to ‘normal’ but I am beginning to think that we will never get back to the ‘normal’ we once knew. The world seems to have entered into another phase in the process which will lead eventually to the great tribulation.

It seems to me to be increasingly obvious that we are being subjected, to various degrees to a serious ‘psychological’ warfare which is intended to demoralize, separate and even dehumanize us.

For example why does the Governor of Illinois tell his constituents that He might have to keep the churches closed for up to another year? (as if it were up to him). Why did Dr. Fauci publicly hope that we as a society, would quit the practice of shaking hands or hugging ?

Why do so many people who take in all of this fear and propaganda feel compelled to preach to strangers, in the store or on the street, the dire need to wear masks? These are otherwise normal people who would never dream of preaching anything to a stranger, but now they berate them as selfish for not wanting to cover their face!

These are just a few examples of the eery, dark and definitely spiritual campaign to oppress us on the level of our humanity. We are far beyond trying to deal with this virus, something else has kicked into society, which is anti-human. No more hugging? No Shaking hands? No getting together in groups of people? No more showing your face in public? (Some people are so compliant, they even wear a mask when they are alone).

What is upsetting also is the fact that our leaders shamelessly seem to be wielding the weapon of fear to herd us into our houses, and away from contact with each other. Fear would be the only way they could do it.

We are seeing with our own eyes the bold threats of those elected officials we thought we could trust with a little power. “There is going to be a second wave of the Pandemic”, “You are going to be responsible for spreading it if we don’t submit to our vaccine”,”We are going to shut down churches and synagogues who do not comply to these edicts”. They have truly scared a good many people out of their wits.

Our world has changed, and there is no going back.

Sigh… I intended to encourage you, dear readers, and yet I have spent the first six or seven paragraphs describing aspects of the problem which I believe is demoralizing so many. Many feel a sense of foreboding, but can’t quite articulate it. I believe that this is a major part of what you may be feeling.

Jesus said, on the night He was betrayed, “This is their hour and the power of Darkness”. Before the end of time, God will grant a short time, to Satan and his followers, to allow evil to come out in it’s fullest expression. God is in control, and we should not be surprised that the stage is being set for this time.

But this attack on our humanity is temporary and ultimately doomed to fail.

We must remember who our God is. Our God reigns! We are not to fear man, but to fear God and Him alone!

When the Gospel comes in it’s last form, as recorded in the 14th chapter of the Revelation, the emphasis is on fearing and worshipping God,

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.(Revelation 14:6-7)

Part of the Psyops of the recent two months is the suppression of the church itself. I would not condemn anyone who took themselves out of church out of a legitimate concern that they not expose themselves or others to Covid.

Quarantine of the sick or potentially sick is Biblical and acceptable. But quarantine of the healthy?

I believe part of what has happened is to get people out of the habit of regular public worship. America is a place where there are more churches per capita than anywhere else on earth. It is still stunning to me that almost overnight, virtually all of them ceased operations, in total compliance with the Government.

Internet streaming is a blessing, (we do it, and love reaching out that way), but it is no substitute for flesh and blood fellowship. What if part of the ‘dehumanization’ project is to replace everything, even worship, with the ‘convenience of machines? A machine is not going to hand you a piece of bread, and say, “This is my body, broken for you…” as a real brother and sister would.

Go back to church! Plug in and Seek the LORD with others who fear Him, and do not let anyone ever keep you from getting together with the Body of Christ.

Remember that in another time of apostasy and defection, the Prophet Malachi spoke thus,

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:16-18)

Don’t be afraid.

I realize it is easier said than done, but God has shown me that the cure for the fear of Man, is the fear of God. A good many people are afraid. They fear death, change, plague, disease and bodily harm.

Fear of that nature, has led to many concessions, (which in my view are unreasonable). The shutting down of the world’s largest and most vibrant economy, the confinement, of millions of people, and untold mental and spiritual affliction to many individuals due to isolation, have all happened because of fear.

When King David experienced a Plague in his day, due to his sin, (the census) He was given the horrible choice of one of three punishments. To make a long story short, two of those punishments involved Israel falling into the hands of man, and the other, a plague, amounted to coming into the hands of God.

David chose to come into the hands of God. God is just, merciful, all wise, etc.

In a way we are at a similar situation. I do believe there is a Plague, but in a sense we as a society are fallen into the hands of men, in regards to how to deal with it.

Many of us are seemingly at the mercy of “the Experts”; Fauci, Birx, the World Health Organization, and even Bill Gates. Again, we are also in the hands of Governors and Mayors also, whether they be sensible like the Governor of South Dakota, or power hungry like Garcetti, the mad mayor of Los Angeles.

These people, are making the decisions that millions have to live with; when to go back to work, when to open up society, who to quarantine, what medicine is approved or disapproved how many can congregate and even, whether or not to have church services!

These are mere men, not God. Their “solutions ” will drag the problem out ad infinitum, (or until people just get fed up and rebel), because they have obvious conflicts of interest. I do believe things are going to intensify.

But we have hope, in Jesus Christ. Jesus said “I will never leave you, or forsake you… and.. Lo I am with you always to the end of the world”. Lets be free men and women. “Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed”.

We should freely worship, freely give and forgive, freely fellowship, and trust the LORD, come what may. Jesus is coming again to take us unto himself!