Canaan's Rest

Most observers of our nation seem to agree that the near future looks uncertain, with an approaching storm on the horizon.  Our perspective  can easily be shaped by the many “influencers” who spread misinformation in hopes of persuading us to ultimately believe “the lie” about the future. There is a frantic search for solutions, with a lot of promises, but little hope. Personally, I need to submit to the Lordship of King Jesus, the ultimate influencer, with his “Good News,” helping me to form a biblical worldview, while I continually cry out for discernment.   Jesus gives us fair warning, “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Mark 13:5); “You must be on your guard” (Mark 13:9); “Be on guard! Be alert!” (Mark 13:33). 

The words of Matthew 24:12 have always been a sober reminder for me. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands to the end will be saved.”  The implication in our day seem to point to  influencers opposed to King Jesus  becoming ever present in the media. A wholehearted devotion to Jesus will grow cold in the hearts of some who follow Jesus.  But remember, Jesus is the ultimate influencer.  He declares, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35).  “I assure you,” Jesus said, ‘Until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s laws will remain until its purpose is achieved” (Matt. 5:18). 

The words of Ezekiel seem to fit our present impasse. “Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall” (Ezk. 13:10).  The prophet warns all who trusted in the whitewashing, “I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare.  When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord.  So, I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash.  I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord'” (Ezk. 13:14). 

Two warnings from Ezekiel seem appropriate for our day.   The first is the message of “peace” when looking into the future.  We are told about a bright future with promises not to worry.  We are being asked to trust these promises. But Ezekiel warns against those who speaks about the future in such glowing terms.   We can easily be led astray.

The second warning is found in the image of “whitewashing” a wall.  Beware of those who simply “whitewash” present day problems.  We need to look at the foundations along with the tarnished building.  God warns us clearly – whatever has been whitewashed, will one day be destroyed.  The flimsy foundation will be exposed.   

Here are two implications as we deal with all the influencers of our day.  One, be careful in agreeing with the voices that speak confidently and persuasively about the future.  There is trouble ahead.  We need to hind the call to repentance and surrender.  Secondly, we must not put our confidence in those who “whitewash” our state of affairs.  When solutions are presented without regard to King Jesus, we need to be very careful in being influenced by “bad news” rather than the “Good News” of the kingdom .   

Bible sales rose 22% through October of this year compared to the same period last year.  This is from data released by Circana Bookscan. This surge in Bible sales, happened while the total U.S. print book sales was up only by 1 %.  Print Bible sales hit a five-year low of just under 8.9 million in 2020,  But sales began to tick upward again.  Sales surpassed 13.7 million in the first 10 months of this year.  

This increase in Bible sales has happened even as polls show a decline in religiosity across the country. The number of Americans who identified with a Christian religion hit a low of 68% last year,  according to Gallup.  A half a century ago, 87 adults in the U. S. identified as Christian, according the the polling of Gallup.  According to Pew Research, 28% of American adults are now religiously unaffiliated.

In the opinion of Bishop Robert Barron, bible sales is evidence of “a renewed search for meaning, purpose and value.” He points out the Bible in Western civilization has been, “the main source of meaning, purpose and value.”  He goes on to say, “I think people are turning back to the Bible in greater numbers” because they’re looking for meaning, purpose and value and they sense they will find it in the Bible.  Barron added that he hasn’t been surprised by rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among young people.  “That’s what happens,” observes the Bishop, “when you say there’s no meaning or purpose.”

The Bible surge could be a natural consequence of a general feeling of anxiety in our world, since our foundations as a nation are based on Scriptural principles.  Could we be living in the days when  Amos prophesied,  “The day are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land – not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).  He portrays people desperately searching for the word of the Lord. “Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, search for the word of the Lord but they will not find it” (Amos 8:12).  Jesus reminds us, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Matt. 4:4).  

As I look back over my life as a follower of Jesus, I am very thankful for God’s grace  experienced in my journey, enabling me to be a faithful workman who is not ashamed.  I identify with Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15).   I have always believed in the efficiency of God’s Word to inspire and do the work of formation in the lives of those who hear and respond to Scripture.  “All scripture, breathed as it is by God, is useful for teaching, for rebuke, for improvement, for training in righteousness, so that people who belong to God may be complete, fitted out and ready for every good work” (II Tim. 3:16-17 Wright). 

Scripture can be seen as God’s “love letter.”  Our culture is desperate to hear some “Good News.”  God tells us that he loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us (John 3:16).  Scripture tells us of being made in God’s image.  He has created us uniquely to serve him (Eph. 2:10).  His love letter tells us all he has done for us,  while carrying us to the end (Is. 46:4).  He is preparing a homecoming for us (John 14:1-4).