In the Eye of the Hurricane

Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,  That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride; He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol (Job 33:14-18)

I awoke startled!  For the rest of the day, I couldn’t get it out of my head! Like most dreams, it was over in a split second. At least, they appear that way in our comatose state of sleep. Again, this dream was no exception. The only difference is that God was about to lead me on a journey that would literally change my life -- in more ways than one.  God had, just, sent me a warning. I knew it the instant I awoke. However, as so often happens, I misinterpreted for whom the dream’s message was intended. We, usually, do. My house (meaning my spiritual house) was filthy, but I had lived in it so long, I was used to the filth. So, naturally, I began to look elsewhere, rather inward. As I was to find out, this dream was a warning from a loving father to his child. This child had become accustomed to doing things his way for too long and wasn’t willing to listen to wise counsel. God wanted to get my attention. What better way to do it than when nothing could distract me… to speak to me while in a complete state of rest. My life desperately needed transformation. 

The message begins: I am the cause of what is happening in the world around me. No one can rightly be blamed for my shirked responsibilities, but me. I bear responsibility for the condition of my neighborhood, my city, my county, my state, and yes, the United States of America. Why do I call that which is right “wrong” and wrong “right”? Why do I praise immorality and condemn morality? Oh, I don’t, actually, say it with my lips. I will stand in the picket line with the best of them condemning such actions. Other people hear my words, but they don’t see the condition of my heart or the hidden actions of my life. 

Now, let me go one step further. You, also, are calling right “wrong” and wrong “right”! Ok, I said it. Now, at this point, I have probably lost half the readers -- but I expected that. Why? Because one year ago, if you would have told me I contributed to the problems around me, I would have laughed my head off. I would have refused to read another word in this book. I would have passed it off as heresy and fantasy. 

Maybe that’s where you are, today. You don’t see yourself as part of the problem. I have learned that as fallen human beings (though we are saved) in a fallen world, we share many issues and problems in common. Central to our shared problems is dealing with pride.

To those who have decided to continue reading, I say, “Hang with me and see if the pages that follow speak to your life.” Those who get past my outrageous accusation – that is, that you share responsibility for a world gone awry – perhaps, the Holy Spirit has prompted you to continue. 

Many of us have been like the proverbial ostrich with its head stuck in the sand for way too long. As long as we can’t see what’s happening around us -- particularly that we might, even, have caused some of the problems -- our little worlds are unaffected. At least, so we seem to think. If undeterred, we may well live our entire lives in this state of deception. How tragic that would be.

My intent is not to pronounce condemnation, but, rather, to speak God’s truth, as I understand it. I hope God will give you insight, so that He will set you free from whatever bondages may ensnare you. I speak particularly of those subtle, though serious bondages that may entrap about any of us. 

We are all aware of the dangerous “big sins”, such as greed, pornography, hatred, murder, etc. Those are the obvious ones. It doesn’t take a Bible scholar to know that those things can eat away at a person’s soul. But, what about our thought life, including our patterns of thought and the thoughts we reflexively allow and accept in our minds? How much have you passively accepted, simply, because you were raised that way or your church preaches that or it, just, feels right to you? Such matters can be, just, as dangerous. I would, even, go a step farther and say they are more dangerous because they are deceptive in nature. Even a believer can, often, unconsciously accept his own thought patterns, ideas, etc., as though there is no other sensible way to think – as though he, rather than the Lord, is the standard or that he of all people has a lock on God’s truth and will. Such a believer sees no need to change his obviously correct [wrong] thinking and, as a result, drifts further and further from the truth.

First Peter 4:17 states, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” We can be like that ostrich and watch our lives run past us or we can heed the warning signs and do something about it. At 59 years old, I have been like that ostrich for way too long and much of my life has slipped by me. We CAN provide that change the world needs-- but it requires courage, boldness, and brokenness. It takes a contrite heart, which is submissive to God’s will and no other. 

I have been in a leadership position in the church most of my Christian life, but have been a “people pleaser” more than a God pleaser. I told people what they wanted to hear, instead of what God told me to tell them. I wanted to be accepted, and loved -- and part of the “clique”. I wanted to ‘fit in’.

I did fit in very well…as many others who are in church leadership…“walking on egg shells”, because of fear -- fear to stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ in a culture that is hell bent on destroying anything and everything having to do with godliness and the redemptive work of Christ. We can see this anti-Christ paradigm shift from the highest levels of government down to the individual struggling to make his car payment. Meanwhile, we sit by watching it happen without providing a solution to turn the tide. Why? Because, in a sense, I am the cause -- and you are, too! We are all in the same ship and have kicked the “captain” overboard. We have mutinied! In fact, rather than follow our Lord into battle and engage the enemy, we have, in effect, turned traitor and joined the enemy! It is past time to invite Captain Jesus back on board, serve under Him, and allow him steer our ship back to safety.