It is what it Is...the Wayfarer 6/1/13

6/1/13

“It is what it Is”

“And even as they  did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things  which are not convenient;”

(Romans 1: 28)

Today I return to scripture used previously in pointing out a specific abomination that needed called to attention. I return there today because of the fact that this particular scripture also applies to much more than just one specific act of sin, and is important to be aware of as we watch the further deterioration of a sinful society.

That’s right, I said sin!  It is what it is, and may be called nothing other than what it was called by our creator.

Sin is not a word often used in the vocabulary of today’s society. Other words that seem to be less offensive have taken the place of that one, all defining, and distinctive word, that actually, immediately, brings the reader or hearer of that word to the knowledge, and truth, that what is being talked about is an offense to God Himself!

Today we hear words like shortcomings, failures, backsliding, mistakes, addictions, imperfections, impurities, ineptitudes, and many more  being used in an attempt to nullify the FACT that what we are talking about is SIN. 

Bear with me as I go back and forth in Paul’s writings, which come directly from Christ’s own teachings, and those of the Ten Commandments given by Moses, that are part and parcel of what should be written on the hearts, and constantly in the minds, of a truly Christian people, to eventually, I hope get through the point intended by today’s dissertation.

We’ll first back track a bit to the 13^th verse of this chapter to have a start point for today’s message:

“ Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I am debtor both to Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise  and the unwise.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

(Romans 1:13- 16)

Just as Paul, in this writing, wanted to enlighten the Romans of what sin is, and what salvation is, and the fact that the gift of eternal life was given to all, Jew or Gentile who would accept Christ Jesus; It is my own concern that his message not go unheeded today, because some would think that what was written all those years ago no longer applies to our own Society.

Like Paul, I would have some fruit from among you, to be given to my Savior, regardless of color, creed or nationality!

 I too, would not have you ignorant of the gospel of Christ and the tenants of Christianity, because we choose to use different words to justify or condone those things offensive to God.

Also, like Paul’s, this message is not only to my immediate family, community, or state, but is intended for all mankind to hear, and to choose to accept, or reject, after having been given it.

I too, am not ashamed of the gospel, and the teachings of my Savior, and I am, furthermore, unafraid of those in power that choose purposefully to reject those teachings.

 The importance of this message is that it gives you the ability to choose where you spend eternity, either basking in the love of my God, or suffering the eternal damnation of that same God.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For the Wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, and glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.

(Romans 1:17-23)

From the beginning of time, from creation itself, God has been apparent and visible to all who simply take the time to look at His creations, and cannot be denied despite all attempts to do so!

The laws that have been passed to us in the writings of both testaments are also equally apparent, and easily understood, and seen, if we only simply listen to an inner voice that tells us immediately whether something is good or evil.

  That voice exists in each of us, but is only as loud as we allow it to be through the choices we make, to either heed, or ignore it.

When ignored long enough, that voice is silenced.... and the laws that are written on our hearts are redacted, and blacked out, completely blocked, by the choice to pursue our own purposes and pleasures rather than those of God himself.

Having already done a complete sermon based on the 25^th verse, and titled from it, rather than dwell on it I will simply state once more:

 It is what it is! Sin!

I will however call to attention, in more depth than I did in that treatise, a few more verses as well, picking back up at the verse with which I opened.

 I also encourage any and all to read the message entitled “Who Changed the truth of God into a lie”, if you have not done so. Its importance and relevance to this one, given today, is equally important now as it was when first published.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over  to a reprobate mind, to do those things  which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, Fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness: full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

(Romans 1:28-32)

Our society, our leadership, and most of our people, do not like to retain God in their knowledge! They choose instead to pursue all the things I speak so often of instead, science, philosophy, political solutions, compromising  faith for anything and everything that is perceived as a means to enrich our standard of living and be accepted by  all within the society instead of seeking God's acceptance.

In the process of our doing this, we find each and every one of the evils that Paul listed is healthy and growing daily among us.

Unrighteousness has supplanted and become more acceptable than all that has ever been perceived as righteous over the millennia.

Fornication is not only commonplace but is celebrated through the media, entertainment industries, on the web, in our schools and places of work , even in so called places of worship, in every conceivable configuration of abomination known throughout history. It is celebrated instead of reviled, openly touted instead of shaming the practitioner.  It is given many names to justify its existence calling it alternative lifestyles, even attempting to redefine marriage and supplant the institution giving the most stability ever given to any  society. 

Wickedness abounds in man’s daily dealings with other men, and permeates even what is supposed to be the very bastions of our faith. Pretenders and practitioners of evil invade the ranks of the faithful destroying faith when their vileness comes to light.

Covetousness is celebrated at every level, up to including government celebration of it by taking from those who earn, and teaching that it is a necessity  that  the wealth be "redistributed" from those earning it, to those unwilling to work for it, who merely want it.

 This is open theft of the fruits of the labor of those actually willing to contribute to the betterment  of themselves and society in general. This diminishes and negates the positive actions of those who would otherwise willingly be charitable and loving toward the ones truly in need, but not those merely in want!

Maliciousness again has infiltrated even to the heights of our leadership throughout the world creating crimes against the very people that those leaders are supposed to represent.

 Leadership and wisdom are supplanted by greed and political expedience.

Envy has created divisions among the nations of the earth, its various peoples, and down to and including dividing even basic family units.

Murder is commonplace and seems more easily justified on a daily basis, invading even the forces charged with protecting us from such “crimes”.

Debate is contentious and hot, often  in minor points of contention, further dividing us from the love we need to share that was demanded by our Savior.

Deceit is constant, again from the highest levels of government to the lowliest business dealings done daily.

Malignity is apparent in a society that has become sick with Sin!

Whisperers are constantly in the background encouraging the triumph of evil around us with their lies and false promises of a better world.

Backbiters extend to those once thought of as closest of friends, if the practice in any way furthers the agenda of the practitioner.

Haters of God are everywhere, demanding that no one be allowed to practice their faith freely, and insisting that any practice of that faith somehow infringes on their right to be unrighteous unbelievers. They use what few laws and rights there are to their own advantage to attempt to eliminate all morality and faith.

Spitefulness abounds in all of the above and takes delight in the misery of other’s lives instead of the joy that should exist that those lives are being blessed.

Pride is the watchword of the young, too proud to even admit their own humanity and mistakes (SIN)

Boasters tout loudly accomplishments, often even taking credit for the actions of others, never once giving credit to God from whom all accomplishments come.

Inventors continue to look for new and better ways to kill our fellow human beings, better ways to cheat them, better ways to subjugate them to the wiles of evil.

Disobedience of parents has become commonplace, taking the place of the honor and respect that we are told to give them, as our educational systems teach that parents are less to be listened to than the things being taught in the schools, things which fail to teach morality and the precepts of our Savior.

Most are indeed without understanding, failing to even see the changes going on before their eyes, blinded by their own wants and goals which are born  of that same covetousness and envy already mentioned, to the point of not seeing the only possible outcome and result of that pursuit when, at the end, they stand in judgment.

A man’s word is no longer his bond. No covenant or contract that may be contested later in a court of law is honored. Men without honor are creating nations without honor, which in turn leads to a world without honor.

Most have become implacable toward others if it means even the slightest delay in gaining what one wants, or thinks one wants, from this earthly life, with no perception of an eternity to come. Immediate satisfaction, and gratification has become the goal, destroying  the rewards of a people who should be  looking to a future and beyond the here and now.

Mercy is perceived as something only to be given by others, a weakness to be  exploited, and not the obligation from each individual, eliminating it from the very vocabulary of most around us.

Instead of the love for one another that is demanded by Christ, we find each man setting out to promote only self, enrich only self, and to seek to satisfy only self.

The natural affection spoken of is not merely the lusts of the body, which I gave a great deal of attention to in that previous sermon, but extends to the actual and real ability to love. That includes the ability to feel not only the things that we want to feel, but to also feel the pain and longings of others around us.

If we are to truly love one another, we must not only be aware of the needs of others, we must be willing to contribute to the satisfaction of those needs. Once more I specify needs, not wants!

Unless and until we are willing to freely and truly give of our love to all mankind, and cease the self-serving search for our own wealth and pleasure, we will never overcome the evils, that can never allow our own true satisfaction that may only come from God the Father, and the salvation offered through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.

“Preacher, you sure are asking a lot!”

 I know this is uppermost in the minds of those who read this, and would tell you simply that it is not I that asks.

I too am human! 

 I too am subject to sin!

 I too am often weaker in faith than is required! 

There is no perfect human alive on this planet, nor will there ever be until Jesus returns and takes charge.

As I state at the close of each of these renderings I am no better, nor worse than any of those I attempt to reach. 

I am however, secure in the knowledge and faith that through Christ Jesus, my frailty, (SIN), is forgiven and that as long as I allow Him to take the lead, I will sin less and draw one step closer to the perfection demanded by Him.

Sin repented  is sin forgiven, sin unrepented  remains anathema to God Himself, separating the sinner from the love intended for him.

Jesus came to remove that separation, preaching redemption through repentance, a simple message to be accepted or rejected, acceptance of God, or rejection of God.

Any claiming to know more than God, claiming to refute the very existence of sin rejects both warning and promise delivered by Christ.

I am aware of the fact that we will never have a perfect world until His return, but I am also aware of the fact that we are required to make every attempt to get as close to that perfection as possible while in this corrupt body.

AS I Have in the past, and will no doubt, ask in the future, I ASK now that you:

Be who you say you are!

Do what you said you would!

Pray only what you mean!

Mean only what you pray!

Be aware that it is what it is!

 And most important of all:

REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!

In closing I ask the reader to continue to read from the chapters that follow this first one, in this particular book. You will find it rich and enlightening in the right ways to pursue a life lived for our Lord.

I close once again, as always, a simple sinner, saved by the grace of God, through faith in my Savior, who sacrificed Himself that I might be able to attain the perfection of God’s love, and, though still an often unworthy soldier in His service,  one having given the demanded repentance that allows that grace, offering nothing but His love, and asking nothing in return but your attention and repentance.

Remember that it is what it is, no matter what you may call it. God calls it SIN and Sin requires REPENTANCE if redemption is to be expected!

2 Timothy 1:12 KJV
 ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer