How are you processing the unfolding events – both worldwide and locally? By processing, I mean taking the individual components and analyzing them to reach a wise conclusion. It is important that God’s people use the “sound mind” He has given us to assess the developments around us which impact us by degrees.
We would do well to keep in mind that God’s law has consequences. Those consequences can be good or bad depending on whether the law is applied or rejected. Sin is the cause of our current crisis and sin is the transgression of the law. God’s law provides a central focus from which to give our mental processing a firm base. There is no lack of emotional thinking and subsequent judgements swirling around us.
God identifies a prevailing mental condition when He says, “The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart” (Deuteronomy 28:28). They are three physical maladies that clearly indicate confused thinking.
The more we experience social breakdown, the more we will see the formation of individual group identities. The ends of the political spectrum are becoming more firm, thus stretching people over the spectrum. This in turn produces more division as people solidify into group identification.
We have mercifully been drawn into a relationship with God which is based on a covenant association with the law of God. It is the rejection of the law that is the basis of moral conditioning which is currently producing social disorder. There is no single group anywhere across the spectrum that we can identify with if we stand on a covenantal relationship with God.
We live in a time where there is a loss of moral consensus. It has been long in the making, but appears to have reached some kind of crisis point. The people God has called and to whom He has revealed His truth are the only ones who can fully grasp what this means. When God called Isaiah to be His prophet, He sent him with a message. “And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy and shut their eyes …“ (Isaiah 6:9-10). This is clearly in line with Deuteronomy 28:28.
There is no part of this world’s spectrum that can see God, His law, His purpose for man’s being. But you can! “… the eyes of your understanding being enlightened …” (Ephesians 1:18).
We must use God’s law as the lens through which we process current events. Being drawn into partisan identities formed by social current unrest is not helpful to your spiritual relationship with God. He is not anywhere to be found on man’s social/political spectrum.
“For Israel has forgotten his Maker … but I will send fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his palaces” (Hosea 8:14).
There was an interesting observation published in The Jerusalem Post on June 2, 2020. In an article entitled “Iran, Russia, China, Turkey celebrate ‘collapse’ of US” the author wrote: “The policies of these countries are to slowly undermine the US and wait for moments of US weakness to push their agendas.”
“Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered’” (Amos 3:11).
Read God’s promises in Deuteronomy chapter 28, chapter 32 and Leviticus chapter 26. All of the promises, both positive and negative, are intimately associated with His law. “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and perform them, then … “ (Leviticus 26:3-4).
God’s law has consequences – and it is the yardstick for processing current events.
Brian Orchard
