As He Is
“In the absence of any desire on the part of the Biden administration to support the Saudis — for decades one of Washington’s most important allies in the region — China has moved quickly to fill the diplomatic vacuum to launch its own initiative to restore ties with Iran.
This is indeed a sorry state of affairs for two countries that once prided themselves on their close ties with Washington but now, thanks to the Biden’s administration’s ineptitude, now find themselves seeking alliances with America’s enemies.” Gatestone Institute April 19, 2023.
Nations who once sought alliances with the United States, and basked in the security of their relationship, are now in the process of reversing that situation. Our enemies are rising higher, just as God said they would. This is not so much an indictment of those nations as an acknowledgement of the decline of America (Israel).
The same is happening with other modern-day nations of Israel. For example, the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean have been friends of Australia for a long time. They recently changed tack and are now opening their doors to China who promise to “lend” them more. The Chinese are delighted to have the opportunity to build a strategic military presence in such a desirable position as they seek to dominate the southwestern Pacific region.
To properly keep perspective, we need to remember God’s promised blessings to Israel.
“… You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not beneath, IF you keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them” (Deuteronomy 28:12-13).
This was to be their glory. However, God said that as their blessings increased, they also increased in sin. So, God said He would change their glory into shame (Hosea 4:7). We are witnessing that fact before our eyes today.
With these observations we are left to ask the question: What are we to do?
The key to answering this question is in the scripture above. Keep God’s law and be careful to observe them! You have heard that before — many times no doubt. But, are you?
As a warning to us of how we handle God’s law, Christ’s words to the Pharisees are recorded for us in scripture. (See Luke 11:39,46,52.) The summary of Christ’s words was, “…Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). Saying one thing and doing another.
How are we doing in loving one another? “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). God is love and Christ in us means we are to demonstrate godly love to one another. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
This Pentecost weekend is a good time to take personal stock of ourselves. The state of the body of Christ and our nations should spur us to greater sense of personal urgency to use the Holy Spirit which was poured out on this day. It is a power given to us to live and grow in a world that desperately needs the love of God.
Are we doing our part to be as He is?
Brian Orchard
