Miscreants, miscreants everywhere!

There is something to be said about this term "miscreant" that is someone who does something  wrong or illegal. Now this does perfectly describe those who do evil things in the land who are therefore being hunted by the Law. Quite right. But what if we have people high up in power who are perfect apt in fitting this term and its description? And I do not ask this question in order that we stir up strife; but rather, that stir up our thinking and correctly discern the times, because we are being led into a danger-zone. 

Let me give you two rather poignant examples of what I am concerned with. The first would be the last president; who when running for His second term and lost squarely. He, in his almighty wisdom decided to make up lies concerning the ballot box and voting system. You remember: "it was rigged." This went on for months and months on end even after the new President was officially elected.  Now here is what should have happened; he should have been the better man and accepted that he lost, but instead his behaviour was no better than a spoilt child throwing a tantrum thinking he was right. 

The second would be the current president; who may seem like a great example for those who believe they are being oppressed and marginalised in society. But he is simply a gofer for whatever sinful proclivity is in existence whether it is the sexual revolution; B.L.M movement which is based on the corruption of the Marxist values.  In reality this man is no better than the last president, just his evil is more pronounced. In a previous post "Biden and his anti-Christ mission" we looked at this man in depth. He is simple evil.

This post is not about these men; but they examples of what I have in mind. Let us continue on with the point.

 

Man's fallible authority on life

Anarchy seems to be the most prominent reality in society at large, all one has to do is look around and see that when men march against the capitol in America because one man's words; when sections of public riot because of a man is treated unfairly. We see a very disturbing thing taking place. Where has this ideal come from?  well, the following steps are inevitable: (1) crisis; (2) the collective is more important than the individual; (3) Mass psychosis; (4) control information; (5) Hedonism; (6) entertainment; (7) makes drugs and drink more accessible; (8) Isolation.  All of these steps are crucial to inoculate the society against the truth about all men being sinful. 

And so we come to the real issue in this whole matter  regarding the societal shift:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isiah 5: 20)

The policy in this current context perfectly reflects these words of condemnation. What does this all mean? The prophets of society will be wanting to reverse the standards that God has set in stone as if they are flexible. 

"But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." (Ephesians 5:3-5)

Then they will seek to either eliminate or alter the parameters of being accepted among the saints; or even if they could in the Kingdom. But both are ironclad. The only way in is shed all your sinful proclivity; and that means, just what the scriptures define as sin. Not you or I. The current strategy is: 'we must make the church out to narrowminded and judgemental.' But the results is clear: these wise men become fools. They are lost in their conceited way (Isa 5:21; Romans 1:21-22) 

Colossians 3 echoes the same thought in these words:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (vs. 1-4)

Our thinking has to distinguished from that of the world; for we are told "set your mind on the things of above" (vs. 2  also Romans 8:5-8). This is a most significant reality concerning Christians. And if this is the case; then what should be forbidden? we are told "to put to death" all that is worldly in nature such as what is listed between vs 5-9 which includes sexual immorality and so forth. Let us be sure to know that we are called to be Holy as we are told in 1 Peter 1:13-16; and we are a people for his own possession as we are told in 1 Peter 2:9-10. That means we are to separated from such things that they want us to participate in.

And how does scriptures describe leaders of the church who give into such perverted thinking? In the following words:

"My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge because you (leaders) have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest, since you have forgotten the Law of God." (Hosea 4:6)

Such a clear indictment; is it not? God's leaders are meant to be paragons of spiritual light and scriptural truth; they are meant to stand on the ground of the immovable rock of truth. And yet, they do not seem to know it. 

 

 God's Infallible Authority on life 

God has set His standard for life as clear as day in His full and final authoritative Word. There is nothing more important and precious to the redeemed heart than God's word; and we can agree with the confession when it states: "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men." (section 1: paragraph 6) Those words give us a good lens to make sure we are consistent with our convictions: does the scriptures hold the first place in your lives? 

How do we deal with such thoughts as the above one? Let us turn to scriptures and we fins one place after speaking of sublimity of scriptures the writer states this:

Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!  Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,  O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19: 11-14)

The scriptures, in every age, have had this supreme place of authority. It cannot be denied without serious compromise taking place.  No matter how one wants to paint the situation; each and every heresy whether it is doctrinal or not, it has come about because of a denial of this one sure foundation: scriptures have the sole and final place of authority over the church-- both collectively and individual. 

These words are very important, the writer says "who can discern his errors?" the answer to that is simple: Only God can fully discern man's errors. And He does so, with the greatest precision. However, the Christian is aided with two things which enable him to do so: (1) the Spirit of God who is truth. (2) the Word of God which is truth. The one who lives for the word will be able to discern the motives of the heart (Proverbs 1:1-7) 

Now let us take note of another statement of truth:

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27-28)

The person in the crowd who spoke words of praise of our Lord's earthly mother may not at first seem to be offensive; or even very harmful. In fact, one could say that these are words of high esteem for a woman; and we may well take it that way. But to Christ even if it is true that women deserve honour (and they do); it is not to be something that subtracts from the place of honour that scriptures should hold. Do Christian today hold this same reverence towards the God-breathed Word? 

One of the Psalmist understood this kind of reverence for He penned statement of such magnitude (I speak of Ps. 119); he started each section with acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet and in each one extolled and glorified in the Word of God; or the Law of God. You can think of the first two statements which says, how blessed is the one who "walks in the law" or "observe His testimonies." (vs.1-2) And why is this the case? Because in the Word of God one can find true life eternal (Romans 1:16-17) 

And this is the same Word which the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of as it cannot be broken (John 10: 35). Let us be clear to fully understand this. The Apostle Paul states:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

Is that how you see these authoritative scriptures? Are they  'able to make you wise for salvation' and all that involves?  Let us thank God for the scriptures.  John MacArthur puts it in this most direct manner:  

The truth of God is the most important thing in the world. It’s more important than anything else, and it’s more important than everything else combined. The truth reveals God… It must be spoken and it must be written no matter what the effects may be and the effects are predictable. On the one hand, some people believe and all heaven breaks loose. On the other hand, some people do not believe and all hell breaks loose.

My final thought is this: do not become like the world who only lives out their sin in a mass of unbiblical ways. And that is because they are miscreants.