Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
This passage of scripture cautions us not to try to make a god of our own devising, whether it be real, as is the case with graven images, or whether it be abstract as a phantom of our own imagination. In other words, if we desire to have a good and productive understanding of the God of the Bible, we must as a rule take His word for what it is, whether we like it or not, for any attempt to alter what He has plainly said will ultimately lead us to signal disappointments and ruin. In the minds of most Christians today there exists a warped understanding of who God is, and the way in which He works, and it is for this reason why so many people are at a loss to understand why He seems to be indifferent to the prayers and concerns of suffering humanity.
The fact of the matter is that He is actually gravely concerned, for this is the reason why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ into the world, as the only remedy and lasting solution to all of our problems, the main one being sin. However, for the most part we have endeavored to change the terms and conditions under which He has stipulated that any reconciliation to Him may be accomplished, and it is because of these changes that were made, why we so often suffer tremendous disappointments to our prayers and petitions.
For instance, there are conditions laid down in the word for receiving answers to our prayers when we cry unto The Lord for help, and even though He is all too eager and willing to deliver, He would have us to understand that until the stipulated conditions are met, we cannot reasonably expect any answers or deliverance, especially if we persist in a course of action which we know for certain is contrary to His purposes. In other words, if we cultivate and harbor cherished sin in our hearts, we may pray until we are blue in the face, but no answer from heaven will be coming our way. Now many Christians and secular folk may not choose to believe this inconvenient truth, but this is what the word of God clearly states, and and it will never change, even if we do not believe it. Let's read:
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
As a nation, we cannot reasonably expect God to hear and deliver us from Al-qaeda and Isis, if we continue to trample upon His holy law, and throw it out as being irrelevant or archaic. To do so would be to harbor unrealistic expectations that will set us up for signal disappointment, when we realize too late that there is no response in the positive from heaven. This is the reason why the prophet states that those who despise God's law will be in for a rude awakening when calamity comes down like a train, for we may hold prayer vigils night after night with emotional crying and tears, but according to the Bible, no answer whatsoever will be coming from God, until we acknowledge where we have sinned against Him, and then put in place the necessary reforms and changes which would pave the way for His omnipotent power to be displayed in our behalf.
Any other concept of The God of the Bible constitutes a god of our own devising, and no deliverance whatsoever will be coming our way, under any circumstances. Thus we beseech our readers to observe carefully the following passage of scripture, and may we read with an understanding heart without altering His words in our minds to suit our own concepts of who we think God should be. Let's read:
Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
The president of the United states of America will be addressing the nation on Sunday night, 12/06/2015, and in his speech he may seek to reassure the nation that they have everything under control, and that we should not worry about another attack on our nation from foes without and within. Now, although his motives may be upright and well-intentioned, yet the root cause of our national problems must be addressed, for according to the Bible, there is no such thing as safety and assurance outside of Christ. And although our president may not be aware of this, yet a lack of knowledge on his part does not change the equation in any way shape or form whatsoever.
When Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh, and the king and his people were made aware of impending calamity, the leader of that pagan nation did the right thing by calling for days of national fasting and prayer, coupled together with positive changes in the right direction, and so the terrible destruction was averted. In like manner, if as a nation we desire any reprieve from the continual and growing scourge of terrorism, we must be brought to our knees, with confession and turning away from sin, and The same God who turned the tide in Nineveh's favor will again do the same for us. But as stated before, let us beware of a god of our own devising, that makes promises but cannot deliver on them.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which illustrates the needed processes of change and repentance, and it is the will of God that we all now humble ourselves and pray as never before, that terrorism in all of its forms may be eliminated from our society. Let's read:
1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!