Macro and Micro: Luke 6:41-45

I've been pleased lately to hear brothers and sisters speaking against, and praying against, the spirit of lawlessness in our country.

If God has shown me the deepest, most utterly grievous, sin He finds in America: and I'm certain He has: it is lawlessness. It is the spirit and attitude and idea and walk that we make our own choices, follow our own ways, and will violently resist any who tell us otherwise.

Lawlessness is itself the essential nature of sin itself, against which Jesus has conquered:

"All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him." (Isaiah 53:6)

I am pleased that other believers are also hearing God call out the spirit of lawlessness, and lead us in speaking and praying against it in His greatest power.

But my pleasure that the Church is hearing this most important word of God is dampened by the realization that our prayers against "lawlessness" are often only against street-riots. Dampened even more by realizing that many who pray against street lawlessness are themselves followers of the spiritual lawlessness of poltical deceivers, that "government is the problem."

Jesus' contrast of the moral "speck" and the moral "log" comes to mind. Perhaps the Church sees others' soulish street violence as greater sin than its own deep spirit of rebellion towards authority.

Jesus directed His moral aim against the greater sin, the determinative spirit in which we think and act. The "evil treasure" we store up in our hearts, from which we bring forth evil. The "bad" nature of the tree, which determinines what fruit it will produce.

God, forgive us our self-deception ! God, give us ears to hear. Give Your people spiritual eyes in which there are no logs, to see !

Amen

Election Predictions Absolutely Certain

There are a few predictions about this year's election (or any election) that we can make with absolute certainty.

There can be no question about the outcome of the election:

An unworthy and fallible person will become president. This is 100% certain.

The person who is elected will make some decisions harmful to America...and a few good decisions. That's been true of every president of every party in every election in American history. The best presidents have done the country some harm, and the worst have done some good (if only for self-serving reasons).

We can also be 100% certain about the election-process:

American citizens will vote for the candidate they "like."

The person God chooses will becomes president. This is absolutely certain.

God will give us a president in accordance with His heart toward America.

God will be gracious to those who love Him. God will be harsh toward those whose hearts rebel against Him. 100% certain.

Every American citizen will show where his heart is toward God when he votes, by who he "likes."

God will act toward America accordingly. 100% certain.

More About Truth

I'm fully convinced I know "the Truth." When Jesus said He IS "the Truth", I was fully convinced, once and for all.

But "unpacking" (as the current phrase is) what it means that Jesus IS the Truth has taken me 30-some years, and I'm nowhere near done yet.

One thing I think He meant by His identification is that "truth" is absolute and exclusive...as He is Himself.

An interesting passing comment in a book I was reading this week about the English language suddenly connected to Jesus' statement. In a section on the inconsistencies of our language, the author noted that we say "a lie," but "the truth."

It seems that even by the way we speak our language, we acknowledge that untruth manifests in multiple forms: but truth, only One.