KILLING TIME

Many Bible verses come to mind as we read this unusual piece of news. Verses condemning laziness, verses urging good works—there are many of these that suit. But two verses from Psalm 90 seem more appropriate than them all. “Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (verses 11, 12.)

What the Psalmist is getting at about God’s anger is the fact that since man is in a condemned state on account of sin, the wrath of God hangs over his head like an axe or guillotine ready to fall from holy heaven to end his days on earth and begin his eternity under divine judgment. “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3.18.) You see how the Old and New Testaments agree? Sure, the first part of the verse (which I left out) says that he that believes on Jesus is not condemned. But I’m not speaking to the believer. I’m looking for sinners unconverted.

Does this kind of preaching surprise you? I’m not surprised if it does. Virtually all we hear nowadays is that “God so loved the world.” You think you’re alright on account of those five words? The rest of the story the fearful pastors will not tell you. And they are more guilty of not applying their hearts to wisdom than all the lazy fools in all the world, and your soul’s blood they are responsible for. They’ve killed a lot of time playing with the Scriptures instead of studying, emphasizing the love of God as if you were in the clear. You are not in the clear. Because your guiltiness reaches up to God, then God threatens to cast you down all the way to hell. No matter how insignificant you feel your sins to be, they have condemned you already. To make matters worse, you have killed time watching TV, playing golf, shopping for stuff you don’t need, or who knows what else. Count your days, the Psalmist is telling you. Don’t presume you have so many left. Next when you are tempted to kill time, apply your heart to wisdom instead. Find that secret Way to avoid God’s Wrath. This Way will remain a secret to you unless you quit idling away your time. Apply yourself to getting wisdom! Even if I reveal the secret: “I [Jesus] am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14.6)—chances are the time-waster will not understand. Can you not at least utter a prayer to God? Ask him to empower you to exchange your time-squandering activity so you can apply yourself to wisdom.

You must get wise to the reality of the power of God’s anger before it overtakes and amazes you! The Psalmist asks, ‘Who knows the power of God’s anger?’ No one can measure it. But those already in hell could tell you a great deal about it.



SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

There are many ‘firsts’ that could be accomplished by the man who would etch his name into history for the public to look back upon some day in remembrance of. One might wish to be the first man to step into a fight in the righteous cause of defending the defenseless. One might wish to be the first man to rush through flames to save a schoolhouse full of children. One might wish to be first on the scene to bear witness to some unexpected marvel. ‘First MP to legally marry same-sex partner’ (Red Deer Life)—this too, in the opinion of many Canadians, ranks right up there as a dignified first to have one’s name sealed to. Already this first is being adored as a courageous, groundbreaking act in the cause of tolerance, equality, and progress. Like feminism’s many firsts, this Idol will no doubt grow to such legendary status as to be hailed as a godlike deed by those debauched quarters of our media.

But in the Farther Future of Eternity this first will be assigned its rightful place and rank. It will be brushed over to the left among the goats, lies, and blasphemy, and then down among the worms and the fire. Woe to those Canadians who go to their graves believing, as the guests did on the dishonorable day in question, that a monster-marriage of two men is “something we need to celebrate”! Can you be ready to meet God when you love wickedness?  

Who was on the guest list for this “history-making event” in August, 2007? Politicians like Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and former Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Paul Martin. Imagine standing before God as a political influence responsible for making legal a lifestyle judged by God to be nothing less than an abomination! Every politician who did not oppose the introduction of same-sex marriage into Canadian law approved it. “He that is not with me is against me,” said Jesus (Matthew 12.30.) And therefore he who takes no stand on Jesus’ side of an issue stands on the opposing, rebellious, ungodly side. The book of Revelation is called “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1.1.) Jesus reveals in there that whatsoever “worketh abomination” will have no part in the enjoyment of future glory (21.27.) To support same-sex marriage is to ‘work abomination.’

Who works abominations more eagerly than the church (United) that performed this grotesque ceremony? The Gospel says to turn from sin to be saved by Jesus. The churchgoer who embraces what Jesus condemns proves by this that he has believed a false gospel and received a jesus of Satan’s imagination. Look at the headline one more time. Now Satan was the first antichrist; Cain, the first murderer; Judas, the first apostate disciple. ‘Firsts’ are not always good.