In 1965 a music group called The Byrds, had the hit song Turn, Turn, Turn. Its lyrics mostly came from chapter three of Ecclesiastics. Being years before I became a Christian I hadn't given it much thought. But even after I came to Christ, I still thought those verses were just nice poetry like that old song by The Byrds. That is until I actually studied and thought about what they said: "A time to hate, a time for war, a time to kill." Hold it, that doesn't sound like my God! In fact, it sounds more like my enemy, the devil, who "comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy." I prayed; Lord You came to bring us eternal, abundant life. I don't get it! Please help me, show me what You're actually saying here. That's when it hit me: "There is a time for every event under heaven."
So, what time is it, and what's happening under heaven?
Wars everywhere, violence, murderers, lawlessness and love-lessness, ruthless tyrants who think they're gods, corrupt, evil politicians. Cruel atrocities, man-made religions, crime syndicates, chaos and confusion. Roving gangs, rioting and looting. Fornicators and predators, legalized same sex marriage. Humane trafficking, and abortion on demand, where both offer organ harvesting at a price. Then, include the the devastating tsunami of porn-addiction worldwide, and we're just getting started.
I could go on forever. But it's time to point out that where Christians, are in the world, we are not of it. We have been made alive, raised up, and seated with Christ in heavenly places, hidden in His blood. See how; we live in heaven, and not under it.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son," because He is Love. That's who He is! He doesn't just have love, He is Love! So, where the enemy kills because he loves killing, God kills because He loves. There are times when God must kill killers like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and others. There are also times when He has to make war on evil nations. Although God doesn't hate people, He hates what they do, and that because He loves them. He knows that what they are doing is killing them.
Another event happening under heaven is the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that's killing so many everywhere. Yet, know that, the plague of of porn-addiction destroys far more lives. Covid-19 attacks the respiratory system, but pornography destroys the minds, and the spirits of its users. Porn-addiction is a real killer!
Other signs of the times. Remember how God told the Prophet Daniel that in the end times people will go back and forth, and that knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4). There are many opinions on this passage, but please consider mine.
We've come a long way from stagecoaches and covered wagons. We are traveling higher, faster and more than ever. There are so many planes crisscrossing the earth, I don't know how they keep track of them. Add to these; trains, buses, seagoing vessels, plus millions upon millions of cars, trucks, motorcycles and more. Our super highways, roads, and streets are wider, more frequent, and interconnected than ever, making it much easier for us to get around. We've even sent men to the Moon and back. We're going back and forth at ever-increasing speeds, distances, and frequencies.
As to knowledge increasing, we have to include every form of it. Like; medical science, nuclear science, rocket science, computer science and such. We're even sending back detailed digital pictures of our solar system, and a myriad of galaxies beyond.
"Technology." which brings us back to pornography. Computers and smart phones have become weapons of mass destruction. Cyberspace is the widest battlefield in our enemy's war on innocence. It's the ultimate weapon in his "lust arsenal." It allows anyone (including children) to bring images to wherever they are and destroy them!
The Apostle Paul wrote:
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be
lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents,
ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control,
brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God." (II Timothy 3:1-4 )
Authentic freedom begins in the mind. It's only found in people who have control over theirs. Those who can control their minds, can also control themselves. Real freedom is self-control.
Our brains are our most sensitive and intimate sex organs. Since that's true, why aren't we more careful about what we expose ours to? For, if we're not controlling our minds, we're not in control. Someone, or something else is.
While it's normal for men to be stimulated by what we see, we were never meant to see so much, or to be so stimulated. Pornography was Satan's idea. He wants to make us think we're doing "our own thing." When, all the while, our thing is doing us.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10:4-5)
Let's pull down every stronghold and arrest every "anti-Christ" thought. Stand clothed in THE KING of Glory, decked out in His righteousness. He is our impenetrable Armor, our unlimited Arsenal, and our Glory. He exalts us as we exalt Him and glorifies us as we give Him the glory. For, from Him, and through Him, and to Him belongs all the glory forever and ever... Amen!
"Real men don't use porn." It's not that porn users aren't men; it's that they're not real. They are self-made men drifting about in shadowy worlds of make believe, where Satan makes them believe they're liberated, and not that love is free, but that that love is cheap.
Being dominated by lust and choked out by shame is contrary to God's plan for us. So, let's throw off and crush every opponent. Let's not tap out, even if we've given in. For where sin never works the righteousness of God; the blood of Christ can still cleanse us from all unrighteousness to leave us perfect and righteous before Him in love. Even though battles will be won, and lost, the war has already been won. "It is finished!" The Lord Jesus was and is forevermore victorious, and in Him, we are too!
Our evil desires can only be gratified, but never satisfied. Satisfaction brings fulfillment, contentment and peace. Where gratifying our lusts only brings; indulgence, surrender, and compromise. Giving in to our lusts makes them hungrier an stronger. They'll devour us, overpower our wills, and make us their slaves. The result is lust rules.
But, as God's dearly beloved children, we are ruled only by our King, Jesus. So let's give Him all the glory. Let's Thank Him for all He has done and is doing. Let's praise Him because He's worthy, it's appropriate. And besides, it will drive "that old serpent" the devil back to his pit.
God had it all, yet He longed for us. We're not loved because we are special; we're special because we are loved. Remember the cross... We're not saved because we are righteous; we're righteous because we are saved. Remember the empty tomb... Nor, are we victorious because we are strong; rather we are mighty because we are victorious! Remember His glorification...
His history is our history, His victory is our victory, and His glory is our destiny.
Whether anyone else knows it, believes it, or even likes it or not, Jesus Christ is Lord! All power both in heaven and on earth is His...and so are we...we are His. He has purchased us by His blood, written His Name upon us, and sealed us with His Spirit. He has delivered us out of the dominion of lust and shame into His Eternal Kingdom. Signed, sealed, and delivered. We are His treasure and great reward. Absolutely nothing will change that! We are why He suffered and died. We are the focus of His undeserved, unchanging, and unending love. So, why not; simply love Him back?
We don't obey Him in order to get Him to love us more. He can't, His love is perfect! Nor, do we flee lusts to somehow turn away His anger. Please, He wants us to be free for our-well being, not His.
So, what time is it?
That old song by The Byrds still says it well. It's time to Turn, Turn, Turn to God, calling on His Name! "It's not too late."
So, if you're not yet a Christian, now is not too late to become one. Turn away from anything that would keep you from the enjoying the freedom that is yours just for the asking.
Believers know The Truth that makes us free: "Jesus Christ is Lord!" He alone rules, and in Him we do too! He's been given all power in heaven and in earth. He's also given us authority over all the powers of darkness in heavenly places. He doesn't just make us conquerors He makes us a whole lot more! He makes Champions! Our lusts don't control us, we control them!
To Christ Jesus our Lord belongs all Wisdom, and Power, and Glory, forever and ever!
AMEN!
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