Posted on 10/19/2001 8:30:58 PM PDT by RnMomof7
America is praying. The call of the president to gather people of all faiths and religions to a service of mourning at the National Cathedral following the recent terrorist attacks has become a poignant symbol of a nation on its knees. We are a religious people at heart, and this tragedy has brought a spiritual cry from our united aching soul.
To whom are these prayers directed?
As the apostle Paul walked through Athens, Greece in the first century, he saw a city full of idols. When the philosophers of the day asked him to present his views, he said:
Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. (Acts 17:22-23)
Paul's words are instructive. He observed that the city of Athens was a religious city. We identify. Our religion is displayed in the mosques, synagogues, temples, and Christian houses of worship on street corners throughout the whole of the nation.
We also know that the Athenians worshipped many gods, for the city was full of idols. The God Paul spoke of could have easily been accepted as another in the pantheon, provided this new god stayed on equal terms with the others.
But who was this "UNKNOWN GOD?" The one unknown to them is the true God of the universe, according to Paul.
Although we allow many gods to be worshipped in this great nation because faith must be voluntary, there can be only one true God. Paul described Him like this:
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, neither is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things. . . . for in Him we live and move and exist. (v. 24-25)
The true God is the sole creator and Lord. He does not need anything, but gives life to all. In fact, it is only in God that we have our existence. There is one creator, one Lord, one giver of life. But he says more:
He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. (v. 31)
This One who gives life to all and sustains all will also judge all. And He proved that by resurrecting the One He sent to eventually carry out that judgment, Jesus Christ.
Now, here is the beautiful thing. Paul went on to say that this God is not far from each one of us. I find such help in this thought. The true God, the one who has appointed His own Son to judge the world, is reachable. And if we seek Him and search for Him, He can be found. He is close by. (v. 27)
What do you do now?
Perhaps this tragic event in our history, unlike anything we have known, has made you a praying person. You are seeing some religious interest, some stirring. You can be thankful for this. At this time your desires are unfocused, but nevertheless strong. What should you do now?
You begin with what is known about Him—He is Creator and Sovereign, and both Savior and Judge through Jesus Christ. Work from that base. Then, with humility, you seek a relationship with Him. In other words, you do not just want to pray to some nebulous divinity out there somewhere, crying out to emptiness and transcendence without any truth to guide you. God did not mean for it to be that way. Knowing God is not just tears, or the oneness you feel with others during this difficult time.
I cannot say too strongly that you should read the Bible. Reading in the book of John or Mark in the New Testament is often a good place to start. In these sections you will understand something of Christ. You will see how he demonstrates His authority over sickness, death, nature, and the spiritual world. In these passages you will find the word "repent" and "believe". To repent means that you were heading one direction, but now you are deliberately turning to Christ, away from your former life and practice. You now despise what you once loved and love what you once hated. To trust, believe, or have faith in Christ means that you rest your full confidence in Him to rescue you from the consequences of your sin. You depend upon Him to deliver you before the final judgment.
You will read of Christ's death. This death was for people just like you. Christ died to pay the penalty for sins we deserve to pay for. He substituted His life for ours. He was then resurrected, conquering the power of sin and death for those who put their trust in Him. These are the basic stories and truths that will change your life.
Then, along with reading the Scriptures, you should try to find a church where the Bible is being taught. Not all teach the Bible well or as carefully as they should. Attend, listen, and ask questions.
Finally, you should not give up praying. God is not far away. He has revealed Himself in His Son. His Holy Spirit draws you to Christ. Ask Him to teach you about Himself. Ask Him to change your life. Trust Him with your life. He says that if you put your trust in Him, you will be His—forever. I have seen people seek God many times in these ways and then find Him. And I've never seen anyone come to Christ on His terms, placing his or her faith in Him, who was disappointed. I do not think it can be said too often that He is not far away.
America is praying. You are praying. But you do not have to pray to an UNKNOWN GOD. I believe that this praying with the right set of truths will bring you into purposefulness, forgiveness, and true spiritual life, out of spiritual death and emptiness. How we would love to see someone come out alive from the basement of the collapsed remains of the World Trade Center. Your transformation would be, however, even more of a miracle than that.
Copyright © 2001 Jim Elliff
Permission granted to copy in full, including all copyright information.
Other uses require written permission.
For other articles offering spiritual help during a time of fear, see www.WayToGod.org.
On another thread there was a discussion if Billy Graham had delivered the Gospel at the National Catherdral....
To me this is a fuller presentation
And shhhhhh....also a visitor to that secret hideaway...:>)
The feeling of fear will pass.
And will this nation have repented of the slaughter of over 40 million babies? Or the moral decadence that is so pervasive throughout our society?
I suspect not.
I agree, tho I wish it were otherwise. I ask myself the question "Why should God bless America?".
Oh please...why be such a cynic? God will draw to Himself those He has chosen. They are the only ones who will come to Him. And as they grow and mature in the Lord, the things that need to change will change. It is unfair to expect one's position on abortion to be the litmus test for whether or not these new Christians will "stick". After a time, I would expect them to come to see that abortion is murder, but that is not the defining mark of a Christian. That is not what makes them a Christian.
On another thread, I remarked about those who search for that ONE THING that will (in their mind) disqualify someone as a Christian. It's always some peripheral issue to the Christian walk, like alcohol, style of clothes, belief in a certain doctrine, one's position on Masons or other brotherhood organizations, etc. Why do they spend so much time looking for that ONE THING? Jesus dealt with that by saying "Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, and don't see the beam sticking out of your own?" God is quite capable of taking care of His own, and leading them into truth. You were once where they are, and God didn't zap you to a cinder for not being perfect.
I suspect some will end up real and many more not..There have always been people that have only sought God when they need something from Him. But as soon as THEY have "things under control" they go back to being theur own god..
Thats why they call it a "walk"..Fall down,skin your knees ,get up ...fall down.. have Him pick you up again.
No one is born or "born again" all grown up..thats why babes get milk and the mature get meat..
That is why we have Pastors,teachers,elders etc..."study to show yourself approved".
Would that this were the overwhelming sentiment in our nation today. Then we might once again enjoy the blessing and protection we knew long ago.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Brigadier
Here is a link to an audio cassette that can be listened to online, which takes everything stated above and exclaims!! it. It is the most powerful presentation of why we need to believe in the One True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that I've ever heard.
Listen to the Tape Online: Hell's Best Kept Secret (Don't let the title scare anyone away!) Click on the "Hell's Best Kept Secret" link and it will guide you to the audio feed. Anyone who is unsure of where his soul is going after drawing the last breath, please visit Pastor Comfort's site (yes, that's really his name).
Because He loves us, and because we love Him. Don't be taken in by what you've seen in the media over the years. America IS a religous nation even though we've been portrayed otherwise over the past 30 years. They almost succeeded, but not quite.
The instant turning to God on the 11th of September was not the reaction of people turning to something they did not know. Those of faith, who are MANY, led the way, but turning to God is natural for us.
Many Americans no longer attend church, but that does not mean they no longer attend God.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chr 7:14
Except "religon" doesnt save...
Only a personal relationship with Jesus Chrst saves.....
Yep..but at some point ya need to grow up..there has to be fruit..A perfect example is Jane Fonda..now she went around saying she was born again..she may even have believed it.
But here we are a couple years later and she is still on the stump for "womans rights"
This indicates that there is no spiritual growth..no life..
Like the seed scatterd that shot up quickly,no depth to the soil..
I love to see God work in the lives of new believers.
This indicates that there is no spiritual growth..no life..
But, is a particular position on "women's rights" a salvation-defining thing? I think that will be between Jane and God, ultimately. Some of us run with it, and others of us take a long time to "get it" and grow. I fall into tha latter catagory. I was born-again in 1971. From 1981 to 1995, I was a very backslidden, stubborn person. I had a brief awakening in 1995 that lasted until 1997, then backslidden again. God has grabbed hold of me this year, and has been wearing down my stubbornness all year, to the point where I am finally ready to let Him have his way. I'm tired of the struggle.
I think there are many in my same position. That's why I get a little touchy with those who are so quick to "write off" others. God didn't write me off, and Lord knows, He would have had every right to do so. Not every seed that is planted springs up immediately, and some seeds, after they spring up, go through a period of "hibernation" before they bear fruit. Christians can be so cruel to their own, just like any family.
Among the unsaved, Christians have a reputation for being less than scrupulous in business dealings, in personal relationships, and the like. We can protest all we want that it isn't so, that it's just a lie of the enemy, etc. but the fact remains that the perception is out there. We don't help that perception by being so cavalier with our own. We need to be very careful that we do not sully the name of Christianity through petty bickering, excusing sinful behavior, or being less than what Jesus would be in any given situation. We need to learn to quit airing our dirty laundry in public, and deal with these things quietly, privately, and in love. That means that some are going to have to learn to keep their mouths shut, others are going to have to grow some boldness in their dealings with those in need of correction, and above all, we all need to get on our kness, and get real with God, so He can begin to manifest His power and glory through us, to a greater degree than is happening now. When we start truly walking in Jesus' footsteps, and acting the way Jesus would act, then we will begin to see the results Jesus saw. Am I wrong on that?
I think there are alot of folks that say or even believe they are Christian..but are not.
If we are born again sooner or later we will begin to look like our DAD..if we dont they we need to see just who our father is (John 8:44)
We all have areas that need to be brought in line with Gods word ,that is for sure..but all in all as we read Gods word and pray we should begin to look more and more like Dad.."If anyman be in Christ He is a new creation,old things have passed ways all things are made new
Jane is a public person..yet she chooses to publically make the word of God a lie...I am not God and can not judge..but her fruit is rotten and that says alot!
The word of God says we are to walk as He walks..enjoy your walk !
Frankly, I see little difference between those who condemn this nation in the name of Islam and those who condemn this nation in the name of Christ. You do not bring people to the Lord by condemnation.
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