Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 5:17:47 PM
Within conservative circles, there is a civil religion which is to a large extent embarrassed by the claims of Christ. If you have any doubt about this, I would ask you to remember the last time you heard a politician pray in Jesus’ name. Now I would ask you the same question with regard to public prayers you have read in history books. Has there ever been a president or major politician who prayed in Jesus’ name? Having stricken the name of Christ from public discourse, the purpose of civil religion could be defined in terms of how to be good without God. And yet when confronted by a man who had only a superficial understanding of righteousness, Jesus, who is God incarnate, said, “No one is good but God alone (Luke 18:19).”
The world around us is energized by a general discontentment, and every politician and advertiser is stoking the fire. This is nothing new; it is just the natural state of man. Two thousand years ago, Jesus addressed the issue with His followers. After assuring them that their heavenly Father would lovingly provide for all their needs, He summed up all His instruction with these words: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33).” The practical application is this: contentment is a matter of priorities and not circumstances. Seek first God’s kingdom and He will take care of your circumstances.
Why is our country wasting away in discontentment? Because our priorities are askew. Our current circumstances are the judgment of God, and let us pray that He does not relent until there is repentance. The current socialist agenda is being executed by those who say they hate to waste a good crisis. But I say that our current crisis will have been wasted unless we repent of our rebellion against a holy God. It is better to die in faith than to live in unbelief. And it is better to be impoverished to the point of being absolutely dependent upon God than to live in luxury but forget Him.
[Credits to George Seevers, friend and former pastor]