James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
This passage of scripture teaches us in no uncertain terms what is the cause of confusion and irresolvable disputes both in and outside of the church, and the real issue has to do with the absence of The Spirit of God. There is no issue, regardless of how great or small, that cannot be resolved through the work of The Holy Spirit in our hearts, and even though it may take some time to become reality, yet every problem may be solved, and every disagreement can find a solution, once we allow God to reign within our hearts. This sacred truth also applies to secular governments and nations who may not have a direct relationship with The Lord, for although He may not be formally acknowledged in their thoughts, yet His Holy Spirit still works through those who are open to His guidance and grace.
But whenever the laws of God are deliberately trampled upon, and whenever high-handed sin is indulged and countenanced, then God gradually withdraws His Spirit after many repeated attempts to correct the evils have failed, and the sure result is confusion, disputes, and every evil work, as the apostle James has pointed out in our passage for today. God does not give up on us verily easily, for His love is not like ours, with a short threshold level that becomes utterly disgusted when tempted and tried. Instead He gives grace for grace, and where sin abounds, He sends additional and copious amounts of mercies so that the sinner may understand that God loves him, but hates the sin.
There are several issues, problems, and disputes that are currently on the world stage, which seem to find no resolve or solution. There is the problem of Isis and terrorist groups which for some reason we just cannot shake or get rid of. Then there is the negotiation between Greece and its European partners, to try to find a solution to the financial crisis that is threatening to bring the nation to its knees, and which for some unknown reason, the talks that have been in progress on the issue have suddenly collapsed after Friday's ruling on the marriage in the U.S.
Then out of nowhere comes Puerto Rico, which according to its leaders is on the brink of financial collapse, and has no one to turn to to resolve its indebtedness. Then again there is the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the West, in which a nuclear deal is being ardently sought for, and one for which the prospects of success are growing dimmer every day.
Question: How is it that since Friday's ruling on gay marriage, that the problems in the world have suddenly seemed to balloon, and negotiations that were in place for many months have suddenly come to a grinding halt? Is it coincidence, or is it as a result of the absence of God's unifying Spirit? The answer to these and similar questions are to be found in the Bible, and thus it is with solemn pathos that we read the precedents set forth, so that our generation may know the true cause of our current woes. Let's read:
Genesis 6:3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man".... 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation"... 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works ".... 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
And then a very solemn warning comes down to us in our generation, so that we may not repeat the mistakes of the past, and thereby cause the Lord to remove His unifying Spirit from off the earth. Let's read:
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
The Ruling of the supreme court on Friday was "Corrupt communication", for it embolden the sinner in a wrong course of action that is diabolically opposed to God and sound doctrine. And one of the tragedies that has resulted is that The Holy Spirit has been withdrawn in measure, who alone could cause the United States, Greece, Iran, Russia and Puerto Rico to find some solutions to the problems now plaguing the world, and cause them to return to the negotiating table. If God wills, He can cause the nations of the earth to agree for the greater good, but if His institutions are trampled in the dust, then that option goes up in smoke. Let's read:
Revelation 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet"... 13 These have one mind".... 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree".... "until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Let us therefore be wise in returning to the foundation we have just interfered with, for it is not too late for a change of fortunes to be implemented through the omnipotent power of a merciful God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls nations and individuals to repentance, and it is the will of God that we harden not our hearts like pharaoh of old, and thus drive ourselves into irretrievable perdition. Let's read:
Isaiah 1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
He that Hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit of God is saying to all nations and individuals. God bless!