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Dealing with the days to come

Reader comment on item: A Conservative in the Age of Trump
in response to reader comment: Who's ready for 2018

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jan 16, 2018 at 08:38

Hi, Tovey

I understand your excitement, at seeing the Word of God fulfilled before our eyes. After so many years of seeing the ungodly dominate the airwaves, it is reassuring to get such evidence that God is in control. Nonetheless, it is sobering to know that so many lives, many of them people we are in repeated contact with, people we have come to know and love, are in the balance.

The key is not in what these people DO, not even in things Evangelicals feel are important, like making confessions of faith. The key is in people's heart attitude: Do they believe in God? Do they believe He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him? Or do they say in their heart, "There is no God". If they choose the latter, they cannot receive anything good from God, because

Pss.14
[1] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...

and

Heb.11
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

That is the great stumblingblock today. Many Christians will dispute with me on this, for they think that making some statement or other about Jesus is critical. I know from my own experience, that this is not so. First, I had to hear the word of God. This put a seed of faith in me, which I watered and nurtured; but I went through life insecure, not knowing how I stood with God. I had met the first test: I believed that God existed.

Then I came to a critical point, a "put up or shut up" moment with God: I thought I was about to die; and I calmly and deliberately sought the God I believed in. I passed the second test, believing that He would reward me if I diligently sought him. It was THEN, that God revealed to me that Jesus is alive, that he has risen from the dead; because I literally felt his hand upon me. After that, things flowed pretty quickly and smoothly: I knew God loved me; I knew I would be cared for forever; I knew that my purpose in life revolved around Him, not me; and to this day, life has literally been wonderful. I did not seek a wonderful life; I sought God; and He gave me that and the other as well.

This is the "Valley of Decision" that people are in:

Joel.3
[14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Will Turkey attack Israel? Maybe, maybe not. Is Jared Kushner the "beast", because of his 666 property? Who knows? Those things aren't all that important. What's important is that, as people see the end of the world as they know it fast approaching, they will not be stricken with terror; but will find themselves doing God's will, walking in assurance that

Pss.91
[7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

That's not the sort of doctrine that causes people to vainly hope for a "rapture". It's the sort of doctrine that walked with Daniel into the lion's den; and it's the doctrine men and women will have to internalize in the days ahead.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (60) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
When will the Republicans start behaving, and govern? [186 words]Michael SMar 31, 2017 23:04238052
Expecting #45 to change [50 words]Sherry DutzyJan 28, 2017 10:28235930
Trump has no need of significant change [80 words]Michael SJan 31, 2017 16:05235930
Institutionalized Politics Wants to Redirect # 45; Can't Because He's Not One of Them [214 words]M ToveyMar 6, 2017 14:29235930
Jerusalem [49 words]Barry BlackJan 24, 2017 13:47235774
As it stands, Trump seems to be waffling. [189 words]Michael SJan 25, 2017 06:12235774
I may dump Trump -- if he dumps Jerusalem [40 words]Michael SJan 23, 2017 16:40235726
Who Will Ready Face the Judgment if America Cannot Move Her Embassy? [544 words]M ToveyJan 24, 2017 15:10235726
If Trump backs down over Jerusalem, pipsqueak countries will slap around the US. [650 words]Michael SJan 25, 2017 06:00235726
Regarding the Move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem: Timing is Everything [271 words]M ToveyFeb 27, 2017 11:19235726
We'll see how it all works out -- if not from here, then from heaven. [303 words]michael SMar 3, 2017 06:40235726
Waiting: Jeremiah 23:2-8; Waiting for It,Waiting for It [379 words]M ToveyMar 6, 2017 11:57235726
In the Eternal Scheme of Things: How Will America Fare if Trump is Tripped [174 words]M ToveyMar 7, 2017 10:31235726
The coming international arrangement [647 words]Michael SMar 18, 2017 05:47235726
The Esoteric Dilemma - Does Truth Lie in the Realm of the Esoteric? [429 words]M ToveyMar 21, 2017 11:49235726
The world needs reassurance [843 words]Michael SMar 26, 2017 04:17235726
This World Needing Assurance Does Not Know Where to Find it [109 words]M ToveyJan 3, 2018 15:33235726
A disappointing 2017. [293 words]Michael SJan 6, 2018 23:27235726
Who's ready for 2018 [77 words]M ToveyJan 9, 2018 10:27235726
Dealing with the days to come [572 words]Michael SJan 16, 2018 08:38235726
Gog attack has started in Afrin [169 words]Michael SJan 20, 2018 20:54235726
Knowing What is Truth and Discerning That in the Days to Come [205 words]M ToveyJan 22, 2018 12:14235726
Ezekiel 38 vs. Ezekiel 27 [446 words]Michael SJan 24, 2018 05:22235726
Ezekiel 38 vs. Ezekiel 27: Part I [434 words]M ToveyJan 29, 2018 13:55235726
Ezekiel 27 vs Ezekiel 38 Pt II - A Reversal of Reflections [453 words]M ToveyJan 30, 2018 13:51235726
Erdogan's ultimate objectives [144 words]Michael SFeb 1, 2018 13:10235726
Ezekiel 27; Ezekiel 38; On Pause in Waiting for the Word of the LORD; Pt3 [473 words]M ToveyFeb 6, 2018 16:48235726
The Bible: The Elephant in the Living Room [661 words]Michael SFeb 28, 2018 06:34235726
Tells of the Abrahamic War(s) [301 words]M ToveyMar 14, 2018 19:25235726
End times prophecies: Isaiah 44, Zechariah 14 [787 words]Michael SMar 16, 2018 05:06235726
1Mysteries of the Godhead - Who does Man Say that I AM - [512 words]M ToveyMar 20, 2018 17:32235726
Turkey now controls NW Syria [201 words]Michael SMar 22, 2018 02:57235726
It's All About Who IS the Real Realtor of Abraham's Estate Now. [192 words]M ToveyMar 26, 2018 18:05235726
Ezekiel 39 (Ezekiel Pt IV) Fuming Pyres of Syria in the Wind [47 words]M ToveyApr 11, 2018 11:00235726
Supplying the Peace of Jerusalem - Ending the Abrahamic Conflict with a Promise [231 words]M ToveyJun 22, 2018 12:01235726
Still Wondering When the Russian Colusion with Iran Culminates Over a Dead Syria [117 words]MToveyMar 6, 2019 15:22235726
1Un-Christian? Narcissist? That's not what I heard from President Trump. America First. Enemies Beware! [201 words]Michael SJan 20, 2017 18:46235621
The clock is ticking. We'll see... Pakistan, Taiwan and Trump nominees [402 words]Michael SJan 20, 2017 04:21235594
Trump as a Liberal Republican and Conservative Democrat [1208 words]RobertJan 21, 2017 05:25235594
I'm very optimistic [767 words]Michael SJan 24, 2017 03:53235594
This captures my thinking... [7 words]Larry HJan 19, 2017 20:38235584
Apology [126 words]Bill DenglerJan 19, 2017 11:20235558
2Trump is OK [302 words]VivartoJan 18, 2017 17:37235506
1It is not a bug, it is a feature [378 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Eliyahu BenderJan 18, 2017 10:08235490
Character is the question [172 words]Thomas BartlettJan 17, 2017 22:17235462
Not Enough Policy Debate, Too Much Trump [205 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
DaveJan 17, 2017 20:51235460
Not Many Last Chances for America Left if Hoping for a Trump Vindication is All That is Left [451 words]M ToveyJan 17, 2017 16:21235447
I just had to smile reading that he's a 'mysoginist' : ) [248 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AnonJan 17, 2017 14:59235444
I stand corrected then, but it would have been helpful if Romney's accusations would all have been in quotes [57 words]Anon.Jan 18, 2017 13:34235444
Deeds vs. words [86 words]Morris Gavant, MDJan 17, 2017 14:43235443
1Giving Trump a Second Look [218 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ellen MacklerJan 17, 2017 14:40235442
Refute Robert? [112 words]Ellen MacklerJan 18, 2017 15:04235442
You make no sense [15 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
marvin peyserJan 17, 2017 14:36235440
Direction Unknown [82 words]Martin SchaffelJan 17, 2017 13:54235439
Thank you [94 words]PeterJan 17, 2017 13:47235438
7In Defense of Donald Trump [770 words]RobertJan 17, 2017 12:55235436
1Well said ... [19 words]Anne JulienneJan 18, 2017 07:59235436
A "spot on" appraisal of the pros and cons of a Trump Administration [224 words]Saul SteinJan 17, 2017 11:50235433
Only the Shadow Knows [31 words]Barry BlackJan 17, 2017 11:42235431
Well said ... [153 words]Anne JulienneJan 17, 2017 11:38235430

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