Scriptural Precedent for Hope for Widespread Revival

Posted on by

I’ve been doing a slow read-thru of Scripture and I’m in 2 Chronicles right now. Chronicles has been a very encouraging read (that was the author’s intent) and I ran across something over the last couple mornings that I wanted to share.

The story of Hezekiah as told by the chronicler has made me very excited about what God can do on a national or widespread scale. It’s especially encouraging in its stark contrast with the story preceding it, the story of Ahaz, Hezekiah’s father.

In 2Ch 28, we’re told of Ahaz, a very wicked king. He brought great trouble on all of Judah with his wickedness. It’s a dark chapter and not an easy chapter to read.

Chapter 29 starts the account of Hezekiah. In his first month as king, Hezekiah began to undo a lot of the evil that his father had done, and he brought back proper worship of God.

The last verse of chapter 29 struck me:

“Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.”

Under Ahaz the people worshipped false gods in extremely abominable ways. But within a very short period of time, God turned the people around.

But not only in Judah….

The next chapter tells us that Hezekiah invited Israel to join Judah in true worship. We learn from 30:10-12 that most people laughed and mocked King Hezekiah’s message to them, but some humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem to join in the worship.

“So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them. Nevertheless some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord.”

And here’s 2Ch 30:25-27.

“The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.”

I pray for revival in our nation, in our state, and in our local area. Passages like this cause me to believe that God can answer that prayer. It’s not unprecedented that God would cause widespread revival among people who were previously so wicked and set against him. And prayer, I believe, is the primary tool/weapon to bring that about, because only God can do that. We may give some credit to Hezekiah, but more than once we see in 2Ch 29 & 30 that it was God that brought about the widespread repentance.

And this is not the only example we have in the Old Testament. Look at the revival in 2Ch 15 under the reign of King Asa:

“They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.”

And in Jonah 3, when Nineveh, a very evil city, repented, God spared them. Here’s Jonah 3:5, 10.

“The people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them…. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”

God is fully capable of rescuing America, Pennsylvania, south-central PA, or whatever place and people he desires. And we know that it would be fully within his character to do so. So, despite how bleak and grim things look right now wherever you are in the world, let’s keep beseeching the Lord of lords, the God of all love, the great Father of all mercies, to spare us by transforming hearts on a large scale. Of course, all 3 of the examples above started with the transformation of a king who then led the people in national repentance. I don’t think God needs a repentant ruler to save a people, but it does seem to be the pattern. So, let’s pray all the more earnestly for either (1) transformed hearts among our current leaders—national, state, local—or (2) new leadership that will fear God and point the people to our Lord.

Regardless of whether or not God decides to answer our prayers favorably, we must not allow our obedience to him and our service to the Kingdom to be contingent upon that favorable outcome. We are still under the joy-filled mandate of Christ to worship God at all times and to make disciples of all people.

It’s my hope and prayer that this is an encouragement to you! It has been to me! We have a solid hope that cannot be removed or shaken. Christ is the solid Rock on which we are made able to stand.

When I Get to the End of the Way — A Poem

Posted on by

My life is a wearisome journey,
I’m sick with the dust and the heat,
The rays of the sun beat upon me,
The briars are wounding my feet.
But the city to which I am journeying,
Will more than my trials repay,
All the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.

There are so many hills to climb upward,
I often am longing for rest,
But He who appoints me my pathway,
Knows just what is needful and best.
I know in his word he has promised,
That my strength shall be as my day,
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.

He loves me too well to forsake me,
Or give me one trial too much,
All his people have been dearly purchased,
And Satan can never claim such.
By and by I shall see him and praise him,
In the city of unending day,
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.

When the last feeble step has been taken,
And the gates of the city appear,
When the beautiful songs of the angels,
Float out on my listening ear.
When all that now seems so mysterious,
Shall be plain and as clear as the day,
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,
As I get to the end of the way.

Though now I am footsore and weary,
I shall rest when I’m safely at home,
I know I’ll receive a glad welcome,
For the Savior himself has said Come.
So when I am weary in body,
And sinking in spirit I say,
All the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.

— Author unknown
(source: https://www.challies.com/quotes/when-i-get-to-the-end-of-the-way/)

A Forgotten(?) Masterpiece — A Quote

Posted on by

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
Gettysburg Battlefield, PA

Modesty and Domestic Virtues of Women — A Quote

Posted on by

From all that I had read of history and government of human life and manners, I had drawn this conclusion, that the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation. The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Swiss, the Dutch, all lost their public spirit and their republican forms of government when they lost the modesty and domestic virtues of their women.

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

By the way… Is 1984 Becoming a Reality? — A Video

Posted on by

While I don’t know anything about Academy of Ideas, the people who put together this video, and so I can’t endorse them, I think it’s a great video with a message that we should all pay close attention to.

Is 1984 Becoming a Reality? – George Orwell’s Warning to the World
(sadly WordPress no longer allows me to embed videos, so all I can do is link to it.)

I read Orwell’s 1984 years ago and I believe it should be required reading for everyone (while it’s still available).

Abbott & Costello — Unvaccinated

Posted on by

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello may have been the greatest comedy duo ever, do you agree? If you’re not familiar with them, I imagine you’ve at least heard of their hilarious skit called “Who’s on First.” If you need a refresher, here it is.

This rewrite has been making the rounds on the Internet. I have no idea who wrote it, but it’s wonderfully written. I can almost hear Abbott’s and Costello’s voices as I read it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

This is, indeed, “Logic at its best”!

Bud: You can’t come in here!
Lou: Why not?
Bud: Well because you’re unvaccinated.
Lou: But I’m not sick.
Bud: It doesn’t matter.
Lou: Well, why does that guy get to go in?
Bud: Because he’s vaccinated.
Lou: But he’s sick!
Bud: It’s alright. Everyone in here is vaccinated.
Lou: Wait a minute. Are you saying everyone in there is vaccinated?
Bud: Yes.
Lou: So then why can’t I go in there if everyone is vaccinated?
Bud: Because you’ll make them sick.
Lou: How will I make them sick if I’m NOT sick and they’re vaccinated.
Bud: Because you’re unvaccinated.
Lou: But they’re vaccinated.
Bud: But they can still get sick.
Lou: So, what the heck does the vaccine do?
Bud: It vaccinates.
Lou: So vaccinated people can’t spread covid?
Bud: Oh no. They can spread covid just as easily as an unvaccinated person.
Lou: I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore! Look. I’m NOT sick.
Bud: Ok.
Lou: And the guy you let in IS sick.
Bud: That’s right.
Lou: And everybody in there can still get sick even though they’re vaccinated.
Bud: Certainly.
Lou: So why can’t I go in again?
Bud: Because you’re unvaccinated.
Lou: I’m not asking who’s vaccinated or not!
Bud: Look, I’m just telling you how it is.
Lou: Never mind. I’ll just put on my mask.
Bud: That’s fine.
Lou: Now can I go in?
Bud: Absolutely not!
Lou: But I have a mask!
Bud: It doesn’t matter.
Lou: I was able to come in here yesterday with a mask.
Bud: I know.
Lou: So why can’t I come in here today with a mask? … If you say ‘because I’m unvaccinated’ again, I’ll break your arm.
Bud: Take it easy buddy.
Lou: So, the mask is no good anymore.
Bud: No, it’s still good.
Lou: But I can’t come in?
Bud: Correct.
Lou: Why not?
Bud: Because you’re unvaccinated.
Lou: But the mask prevents the germs from getting out.
Bud: Yes, but people can still catch your germs.
Lou: But they’re all vaccinated.
Bud: Yes, but they can still get sick.
Lou: But I’m not sick!!
Bud: You can still get them sick.
Lou: So then masks don’t work!
Bud: Masks work quite well.
Lou: So how in the heck can I get vaccinated people sick if I’m not sick and masks work?
Bud: Because you’re unvaccinated.

By the way… Who are the Most Vaccine Hesitant?

Posted on by

I’ve written a few times lately about being hesitant to get the COVID vaccine and I feel more and more confident in my decision to not give in to the government’s pressure to inject something into myself that I don’t want and that I don’t trust. I realize that there may be a price to pay for that decision. If I lived in New Orleans, NYC, or some other cities, I’d be banned from eating in restaurants, attending indoor events, or going to gyms or movie theaters. I might even lose my job if things get bad enough. And, of course, I might get COVID-19 (though that obviously doesn’t set me apart from those who are vaxxed).

I’ve received some funny looks and some confusion from the vaxxed crowd when it comes to discussing my views on the mRNA, untested, politicized gene therapy, but I found out that I’m in some pretty good company. It looks like the most hesitant demographic are the most highly educated among us.

To be sure, I am not highly educated; I didn’t even graduate from high school (though because of the GED and military service, I was able to get 2 semesters of undergrad work done), so I’m not counting myself among the highly educated. But it’s good to know that I’m not just some idiot that’s bucking against a well-thought-out plan of public safety. Instead, I’m an undereducated dolt among intellectual bigshots that sees that the vaccine (along with masking, by the way) is little more than additional governmental power grabbing which has the potential of endangering people’s lives and creating a dystopian police state.

This short article explains the demographics of vaccine hesitancy. Take a look.