Jan 9, 2022
Time To Make Some New Year ReVolutions.
1-10-22
Everything Has Its Time.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to harvest what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
These words from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, a book of wonderful wisdom, are familiar to us. They describe life as it confronts us, but also are meant to instruct us as we confront life going forward. I believe it is not presumptuous to be guided by the dualities – attributed to King Solomon, describing God’s sovereignty and timing – and make inferences, or indeed additions and applications, for times such as we live in now.
Of course all the circumstances we face in life are implicit in those eight verses, yet we can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, so we may discern dualities in the unique challenges facing believers today.
It is appropriate that we apply these modes at the turn of a New Year.
We face manifold crises, and for all their variety of evident origins and apparent differences, our crises are all spiritual at their sources. Spiritual problems never can be overcome, nor successfully even faced, except by spiritual means. Anything else is futile.
We will not list the crises in the church, the West, the nation, the culture, our homes, families, and selves – partly (and sadly) because they seem too many to list at this moment of our existence – but we all sense them. Whether on grand, civilization-wide, historical contexts; or in the deep recesses of our emotions, souls, and consciences. At most times in history, there have been present and impending crises, but I believe we now are at an unprecedented inflection-point.
In the manner of Solomon’s dualities, Christian patriots must, as never before in our lifetimes, be committed to peace… but be prepared to do battle.
There is a time to defend, and a time to attack.
A time to listen, and a time to require that others listen to us.
A time to practice tolerance, and a time to stop tolerating certain things.
A time to be “accepting,” and a time to be a righteous irritant.
A time to compromise, and a time to assert truth at all costs.
A time to hold opponents to the Truth… and hold our selves and our allies to it also.
Things are going to get worse in this world before they ever might get better. I have read ahead to the last chapters, and there is a happy ending to all this. But… there is tribulation ahead, first. Likely more persecution and grief.
Yet before joy triumphs we are not merely urged to resist, but we are commanded to fight. We must fight for our families and our future, for our souls and the faithful – for God.
Happy new year? Oh, yes. This is a glorious burden. Take heart. We are on the winning side, after all. And we should start acting like it! Realize something, that God must trust us exceedingly that we were born in a time such as this. Review all the strong and brave defenders of the past, Christians and patriots both, and how our challenges – our responsibilities – are more awesome than theirs.
Take heart, take hope.
At the moment, even with uncountable Bible promises overflowing my heart, and whispered inspirations from the Holy Spirit in my mind, I can be encouraged even by words of a secular song that rings in my ears –
Beyond the blue horizon is a beautiful day!
Goodbye to things that bore me; Joy is waiting for me!
I see a new horizon, my life has only begun! Beyond the blue horizon lies a rising sun!
I think King Solomon would approve! Do you?
+ + +
Click: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Inspirational in an honest sense of the word, Rick. Thank you! I will copy this and keep it.
“A time to refrain from embracing,” “…a time to hate.”
These are the parts we forgot as we were herded by evil men into the situation we now find ourselves. We must reclaim our backbones and be, once again, citizens rather than slaves. A good parent may send his child out into the world, but he would never send him with his hands tied behind his back.
We are told to turn the other cheek, and I do when I am attacked. But attacking my family and children and heritage might be different; and when my Lord is attacked I will respond.
Americans have been cultivating wishbones… when we should be growing backbones, as you say.
Your list of “A time to…” is a must-read. Thanks, Rick.
A time to be “accepting,” and a time to be a righteous irritant.
My pastor used to say I was like the grain of sand in the oyster shell that produced the beautiful pearl.
Thank You, Rick, for writing Truth.
I have always loved that analogy — every aspect of it — and it describes you, and your influence through the years, perfectly!