After the general election in the UK in May 2015, two of the defeated political parties licked their wounds and counted the cost.  Defeat for both the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats forced them to review what they stood for and how they could regain much lost ground.   New leaders were to be elected and it was acknowledged that, after the electorate had dealt them such a savage blow with the Conservatives securing an outright win, a new approach from them would be needed.

I read one definition on the internet that stated that “A political party voluntary, organised, possesses beliefs and translates these into policies or legislation.  It also assumes that political parties have a set of core beliefs which may change slowly over time.”

Core beliefs may change over time?   That’s a very dangerous position to be in if it applies to our Christian lives, but apparently in political circles no problem is seen in making changes that may not necessarily agree with their party but is to their political advantage.

Tony Blair won three elections by moving the Labour party from the left of the political spectrum to the centre ground, but when he gave way to others, it appeared that this approach was abandoned, resulting in two subsequent election defeats.   Mr Blair did this by various methods, one of which was through “focus groups” who gave the feedback as to what they thought the country wanted.   It was a case of “we are the leaders but tell us what we need to do so that we can be in charge.”   In other words, we will lead from the rear!

Political commentators state that it must now be on the agenda of defeated parties to move back to the centre ground if they are to be electable again.   It is not so much a matter of what they necessarily believe in, more in how they can be elected to form a government to run the country.   They are short on principle in their pursuit of power.   Where are the conviction politicians?

In fact, whatever happened to principles, where politicians inform the electorate what they stand for and believe in, not just what will put them into power?   Where are those who spell out their core beliefs, not what they are told will enhance their chances of political power?

What ground do they stand on?   In such situations, the ground moves and they move with it, purely to get their hands on the reins of power – yet another reason why we, as Christians, don’t vote or get involved with politics!

In 1995, in our former association, the ground moved.   We were asked “who moved?”, but the one asking the question was the one moving!   If we stand on firm ground, we will not move ground.   Unfortunately, so many at that time seemed not to be grounded in the truth and they moved.   Those of us who refused to give way to error stayed on the ground which we had proved to be solidly based on the truth of God.

Politicians can move to the left, centre or to the right of politics, but that is because of advantage to them in their pursuit of power and influence.   We, as members of the Body of Christ, must not move in any direction except forward towards the Kingdom of God, and, to achieve that goal, we have to make sure we are not on moving ground.

Just solid ground!

It can be truly disheartening to watch the wholesale rejection of God by the nations of the world, and especially by those that have been blessed by Him. The mainstream news media only seems to offer ridicule to religiously founded positions. On rare occasion, the leaders of our nations today may offer lip service to Christian ideals, but in practice they extend even greater privilege and glory to the contrary. Quite simply, we are witnessing godly virtue become expunged from public policy and social sentiment more and more.

All of these are generalized statements, and there are exceptions, but the direction that we see the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth take is a path away from God. And the momentum is only picking up. Only a few people today understand the lineage of these nations, that many of them descend from the House of Israel, and that the blessings they have enjoyed over the past centuries are from God. Instead of acknowledging these facts and glorifying Him in conduct, we see those blessings taken for granted and God’s ways rejected.

Isaiah 65:2 states God’s perspective, “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face….” God has been generous to His people, the descendants of the House of Israel, but the thanks offered in return is void and insulting. When the laws of the land begin to contradict the laws of God, and when sin is glorified as righteousness, we don’t need to wonder how God will respond; it is plainly apparent in our present day. I’m afraid that we are in the midst of witnessing God’s patience run thin, and along with that, the withdrawal of His protection. The United Kingdom and British Commonwealth have lost their mighty strength and imperial rule that they once had. The United States of America is quickly losing the respect from other nations around the world, and with it the economic and political dominance it once had. These are things that we can personally bear witness of today. When the good ways of God are considered evil by people (compare Isaiah 5:20), He will respond.

The most sobering warnings to God’s people are written down for us in the Bible beginning with the ominous statement, “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15). What follows this conditional warning is a very vivid description of blessings and protection being withdrawn, violence, curses, captivity, and other horrible effects of disobedience. When reading through the description of what is promised by God when there is a failure to obey God’s commandments, it doesn’t take much imagination to apply some of the curses mentioned to the nations descended from the House of Israel today. What is even more frightening is the realization that there are terrible curses that are promised that have not yet been made manifest. As people turn further away from God, He will turn further away from them, and replace curses for the blessings once granted. The worst curses are yet to come.

In thinking about the warnings of curses for turning from God, it is very easy to point a finger at “them” and not apply the same warnings to ourselves. However, we can’t fall into the trap of complacency. The fact remains that we live in this world right now and that we can easily become influenced by popular opinion of our society. We all need to ask ourselves if we are able to stand up for God even when we may face ridicule, humiliation, and persecution as a result. Even when the nation that we live in may rebel against God, a promise of protection remains for individuals who are able to keep their faith intact and not deny God. While we are assured of tough times ahead as God’s plan unfolds, there remains a crown of life for those who are able to endure (compare James 1:12).

I dare to admit it: I like Donald Trump. That is, I like someone who stands up for his views and does not generally buckle in the face of adversity. And even though he received a lot of rejection for many of his comments, he also got some recognition that he was not “all wrong” in what he was saying. Take, for example, his comments on Mexican immigrants which prompted a whirlwind of hostile reactions. Of course, in context, he never quite said what his opponents claim.

Here are his by now “infamous” words:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

When challenged by CNN, he stood by his words, emphasizing the obvious—that he wasn’t talking about the Mexican people, many of whom he loves, but illegal immigrants, adding that “somebody’s doing the raping.”

That left-liberal Democrats and moderators are not supporting Trump is obvious. And even most conservative Republicans and commentators, being fearful that a close relationship with him might backfire on them, are reluctant to publically side with Trump. But some few have decided to throw all caution to the wind, saying (as Ted Cruz did) that “Trump speaks the truth.” Ann Coulter agrees, alleging that the mainstream media covers up the many sex crimes committed by Mexican illegal immigrants, adding that the “rate of rape in Mexico is even higher than in India.”

The National Review editor grudgingly consented with some of Trump’s comments in an article, titled, “Sorry, Donald Trump Has a Point,” continuing, “NBC, Univision and Macy’s have all thrown The Donald under the bus… The companies fleeing from Trump were happy to be in bed with him so long as it suited their business interests…  The point surely could be made much more deftly by anyone not named Donald J. Trump. In the meantime, he fills the vacuum, and enjoys the whirlwind.”

Especially America’s mainstream press and also media outlets in Europe (left and right) portray Trump as a villain, a lunatic, a showman, a joke and a laughing stock. Germany’s mass tabloids seem to find the most disadvantageous photographs of him when they “report” about “The Donald.”

In turn, Trump fires back, and his popularity in the USA rises as a consequence. He has not many kind words for politicians from either party. But it would be dishonest to question the accuracy of the following statements (which he made in one of his interviews with Newsmax TV):

“A politician is all talk, no action. They’re not going to get us to the Promised Land… They’re controlled by lobbyists, they’re controlled by their donors, they’re controlled by special interests. … If you’re looking at making our country great again, they’re not going to do it.”

Now, Trump has not always been following through, either. When neither Republicans nor Democrats were willing to publically question Barack Obama’s claim of being born in the USA (a necessity for becoming President), Trump dared to challenge the “evidence,” but he subsequently buckled when a copy of a long-form birth certificate was produced, allegedly “proving” that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii. Some feel that Trump should not have given in, as in their evaluation, too many unresolved questions remain to this day. They point at the declaration of some analysts that the birth certificate was a fraud. They speak of the death in a plane crash of the governmental official providing the copy of the birth certificate and “affirming” its accuracy—even though Trump found the plane crash to be mysterious. They refer to the uncontested affidavit of Mr. Obama’s grandmother claiming that she was present when he was born in Kenya; and the proclamation of Mr. Obama’s publisher for many years that he was born in Indonesia.

Whatever the case, it seems that Trump may have learned from the past and is now even more determined to run with what has been given to him. No doubt, he will encounter much more opposition in the months ahead from just about every corner. Sadly, in this present evil world, even if he ended up in a high governmental position, he would still not be able to make a substantial difference, because our man-made faulty governmental system would prevent this from happening. It will require the return of Jesus Christ to build a new world from the ruins of a totally destroyed planet. Earth, under Satan’s rule, will be in shambles, caused by man’s greed, injustice, incompetence and his terrible wars.

Even though I can by no means agree with and approve of all of Donald Trump’s words, concepts, methods and courses of action, it is still refreshing to see that someone is apparently willing to cast off the shackles of fearful political correctness and speak his mind—pronouncing what he seems to truly believe, without “retracting” and “apologizing.”

How much more should we, as Christians in God’s service, cry aloud and spare not and show our people their sins and transgressions and identify the rotten EVILS of this world and its total lack of morality, while proclaiming with BOLDNESS and CONVICTION the gospel message of the Kingdom of God and Christ’s soon-coming return in POWER and GLORY? But even though timid lip services to this godly commission might be given occasionally, how many are REALLY willing to follow through with it without compromising, especially when faced with opposition and rejection?

THE KINGDOM IS UPON US… but it is not yet ruling on earth. How eager are we for that moment to finally arrive, when Christ returns to put an end to all the ungodliness in the world?  Will we be spiritually ready when that time comes?

We don’t know exactly when that will be, but we do know through the Bible that we need to watch and be ready.  At the same time, we have to keep living our lives as if there was a whole lifetime ahead of us – and we must do so with patience. We MUST have patience.  Our patience is tested all the time, in everything we do: “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [better: sonship], the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:23-25).

We eagerly wait to rule with Christ as God Beings, as immortal members of the God Family. This is what we hope for with patience, and even though we do not know exactly WHEN it will happen, we DO know THAT it will happen.  We will be blessed when we endure until the end (compare James 5:11).  God also has a tremendous deal of patience, especially with us.  He expects us to make it, despite the times when we stumble.  It really gives us much hope, knowing that we are called and that God has the confidence in us that we will be in His Kingdom, even though we slip up from time to time.  Just as we are patient, God is as well.

The Bible tells us how we ought to live—how we should behave as Christians. You might want to review Romans 12:9-21.  Everything mentioned in that passage requires patience.  This is what we are to do every day, until Christ’s return, and James 5:7-8 also instructs us in this way: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

In a world threatened by war, famine, disease and anger, let us take this opportunity to uplift and strengthen our resolve.

Here in the USA and in other countries around the world, we just had Father’s Day—a day when people take time to show respect and to honor the men in their lives who have either been a father or a father figure to them. A father is someone who leads his family in a loving and caring manner. This can include at times having to train his children (Proverbs 22:6), giving good gifts (Matthew 7:11), encouraging them and lifting them up instead of tearing them down (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). This of course is not just a father’s responsibility as it takes a woman of noble character to help raise a family (Proverbs 31:28).

This type of family relationship, while very physical and real, is also played out spiritually by God our Father. We are His children. Galatians 3:26 says: “For you are all sons [or children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” This passage and many other Scriptures show that God considers us to be His children. As a father loves his children, so God has the same feelings towards us. He cares for us at all times. Just as a father must correct his children, so at times God lets us go through trials to learn and to become more reliant on Him for our physical and spiritual sustenance (James 1:17). Even when we have to go through trials, God isn’t far away. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation [or affliction], that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble [or affliction], with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

In Matthew 18:2-3 Christ points out that it is our duty to become as little children, in action and thought: “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

As our Father is the God of the entire universe, there is nothing that passes by His attention. The Bible says He numbers and names the stars, counts the sand on earth and numbers the hairs on our head. He sustains the universe by His very Word and Will. And to top it off, He wants to share all of this with us. As we consider the wonders of God, it is important to remember these things and to dwell on them, so that we stay motivated and focused. With God as our Father and Him wanting us to become like Him, we have every opportunity to obtain our crown.

Lately, there has been an inordinate amount of media coverage regarding the ways persons identify themselves.  Some men and women are choosing to become their opposites, or somewhere in between.  While ungodly behavior has existed since mankind was created on this earth, modern medical practices are transforming people in perverse ways.

We have a purpose as given to Adam and Eve, to “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Genesis 1:22).  We were created to fulfill God’s Will and increase His Family.  But mankind has rejected most aspects of God’s Laws.  Instead, mankind’s focus is driven inward, towards fulfilling one’s own will and pleasures.

God has always known who His people are and whom He will work with and call. “For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground” (Amos 9:9).  We can live by, and begin to believe in, whatever lie our carnal minds can devise.  But we can’t fool God.  There is only one way.  Only one truth will lead us to God.

It may be hard for those of us with God’s Spirit to perceive why someone would reject the love and ultimate purpose that God gives to His followers.  Yet we know because of Satan’s pervasive influence, when mankind is given a final chance, some will choose to reject God: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

Satan cannot be trifled with!  His corruption is complete.  His wisdom in deceit is beyond the ability of carnal minds to combat.  So many in the world think they serve God when they don’t.  Satan didn’t think he was tempting some facet of God when he proceeded to tempt Christ.  Satan knew he was tempting The Logos as a man – a glorious being who emptied Himself of His glory and became fully man, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).  Satan thought he could overcome Christ by temptation.  Satan assumed like all men, Christ would be subject to, and in fact drawn to his deceitfulness.

But Christ overcame Satan’s temptations, because He was filled with the same Spirit that lives within us.  There is no question who each of us are today! “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).  Focus on pleasing God and it will be His pleasure to give us the Kingdom.

Recently there have been several references to compromise in the messages we have been receiving, and today I’d like to look at why it is so important not to compromise on God’s Word. Once we compromise, we open the floodgates to changes, which can lead to the destruction of the entire Church and also the individual.

Through the leadership of Evangelist Norbert Link, we are determined not to compromise with God’s Word, regardless of the consequences, even if this means low growth, threats or other “setbacks.” One of the key reasons is a matter of trust, as stated by Christ in Luke 16:10:  “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

If we as a Church can be faithful in that which is little in comparison–the unfettered preaching of the gospel to the world without compromise or apology–then we can be entrusted with the much bigger task of ruling the world under and with Christ, as revealed in Revelation 5:10: “ And [You] have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Rulers and priests (teachers) under Christ will not be intimidated or shy, and they will not compromise in getting the truth out to the world.

This is somewhat of a proving ground for us now. Can we do it as we are commanded, do it faithfully and allow God to open the doors for us, and not to get hung up on looking for huge numbers in the Church nor for a host of other distractions? Bear in mind what God was able to do with Gideon’s small group, after He had reduced the number from 30,000 to 300, to prove the point that God can do wonders with a small dedicated uncompromising  faithful group who are seeking to do His will regardless of the consequences, until the end of their lives or the return of Christ? If they do, then they will inherit salvation and receive the crown of life.

Matthew 10:22 says:  “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

2 Timothy 4:8 adds: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul never let the trials he had to go through blur the reward that was before him. His trials are outlined in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28:

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

Paul never allowed the trials to hinder his God-given task. I wonder if we would remain that faithful if we were to face even a fraction of what he had to go through.  Paul was aware of the promise from Christ not to ever be forsaken, which must have given him the strength and courage to endure his trials.

Hebrews 13:5 tells all of us: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.’”

We can draw strength from this promise from Christ, giving us the determination to move forward with the task at hand in an uncompromising way, which will guarantee us a position in the Kingdom of God.

During the middle of last week my mother contacted me to let me know that my 94 year old grandmother had died, and that the funeral would be on Friday. After hearing the news I quickly booked a flight at the last minute to travel back to my childhood home for the weekend. The unexpected travel took some effort to coordinate, but it was very important for me to be with my family during that time.

During the many hours that I spent traveling, I was compelled and had the time to meditate on the brevity of life, the swiftness of time, and the vain pursuits of mankind (compare Ecclesiastes 1:14). I was reminded of the statement made in James 4:14,  “… For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Certainly, the time that we have to live a life in the flesh is very short, and therefore the time that we have should be spent on things that are very important.

What is important then? This is a question that I thought a lot about. Do I spend my time on activities that are really important? After experiencing mortality closely, the typical answers naturally become re-evaluated. During the memorial service for my grandmother, I had the opportunity to look at photographs of snapshots taken throughout her life. I listened to stories from people who had spent time with her. The kinds of things that captivated me were the relationships that she had with people, how she influenced the lives of others, and the character of her way of life. Reflecting on her life caused me to realize that character and the ability to influence others in a positive way are very important for our relationship with other humans.

It is the development of our character that is important to God as well. We all have the opportunity to live our lives in a way that is obedient to God, showing our willingness to do what is good and right in His sight. Whether we are able to accumulate wealth or accomplish great worldly feats is inconsequential. Our ability to develop positive relationships with others so that we might influence people is also important to God. Christians are called to be lights in this world, as a living example of good works. As Jesus Christ instructed in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The ability to live a life that develops good, righteous character, that may cause God to be glorified is what’s important for us to focus on.

The corollary of knowing what is important is knowing what is not important in life. It is all too easy to become distracted and focus a disproportionate amount of time and energy on things that really don’t matter that much. When our lives are evaluated at the end, whether by our friends and family, or by Jesus Christ, many of the things that are seemingly important at the moment will be of little consequence. What will be important is the manner in which we have lived our short lives. Did we show the love for God and people in our lives, or not? Solomon sums it up well in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 where he writes, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all [or, “the whole duty of man”]. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

Over the decades I have had close contact with literally thousands of members in the Church of God. The beginning for me was hearing The World Tomorrow broadcast at age fifteen. A couple of years later, I met someone who was part of what was then called the Radio Church of God. That was followed by my attending Church services in Springfield, Missouri, and then being accepted to Ambassador College in the fall of 1964.

In those years of 1960’s and 1970’s, there was tremendous growth. Every aspect of the work of the Church flourished. There was inspiring unity, a kind of singleness of heart among the majority of people. Occasionally, however, some left the Church even when it was at its strongest. The reasons were varied, but those who remained carried on. The prevailing attitude was that this would only happen to the few, but just the opposite has proven to be the case!

Now, in May of 2015, tens of thousands of members who were once in the Worldwide Church of God have faded into a dizzying array of groups. While some struggle to remain faithful to God, most have allowed themselves to be reabsorbed into the society they once rejected!

My reflection on what has transpired is something we should know all too well. But this isn’t just history—it is our struggle of this time, and it will be true in the days ahead. It is because Satan seeks to stamp out anyone and everyone who is a member in the Church of God.

Looking back, it seems that we were easy prey for Satan. Our mistake in times past was that we didn’t really take precautions—we didn’t heed the warnings we all heard! But know this, while we can learn from what has happened in recent years, the real test remains—to finish!

Jesus outlined the challenge set before us:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT” (Matthew 7:13-14)

We all love rewards, and God loves to reward us. God has a very great reward in store for us, but have we ever wondered how our personal reward will be determined?

Jesus said:  “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He said also: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Both statements can be connected with the Holy Spirit as the source of light. “Light” is a manifestation of the Spirit.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, recorded by John, we read about “seven lampstands which… are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).  Revelation, chapters two and three, identify the seven churches and their eras. Importantly, the seven lampstands, of and by themselves, are not the source of light. The source of light is the oil, representing God’s Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD., light appeared “as of fire” (Acts 2:3), which was in fact a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. That was the power source, by which the lampstand of the early Church burst into illumination! That light, down through the ages, has never been extinguished. However, some individual lights, which should be shining, have gone out.

The light of Pentecost is in fact key to a great reward. We read in Revelation 22:12: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give everyone according to his work.” This connects with the parable of the pounds or the minas in Luke 19:11-27. The one who gained ten pounds was rewarded with authority over ten cities. The one who gained five pounds was rewarded with authority over five cities. The one who did nothing and who gained nothing, whose light went out, lost his reward.

Authority, rulership and power will be handed to us by Jesus, the King of kings. Christ’s original apostles have already been promised twelve thrones – judging the twelve tribes of Israel. That is their reward. Our reward will be the thrilling opportunity to serve, with great honours, as kings and priests – bringing salvation to our loved ones and to this dying world. We, of and by ourselves, cannot do anything. We are not the source of light – it is the light of God’s Spirit that empowers us!

Christ tells us: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The Spirit that ignited the lampstand of the early Church now works in us, helping us to produce good works, which will determine our great reward!

May the original light of Pentecost come upon us and shine brightly within and through us!