These days of unprecedented challenges have left many to seek answers to questions that otherwise would not be asked. Many are inquiring into what is happening, why it is happening, and how long will it happen. This being the last quarter of the Year 20/20, the Year of Vision, none of the occurrences of this year are without merit. Believe it or not, these years were on God’s prophetic calendar to happen exactly as the events are unfolding before our eyes. The Covid-19 pandemic, the surmounting racial tensions, as well as political and other social issues have aroused the attention of the world. Those who have platforms within society are now standing on their soapboxes and making speeches as to how these issues are to be remedied. They are drawing large crowds of people who have confidence in their celebrity status rather than their wisdom. Some would risk their lives in gambling with their future on a bet that the most popular person just may be most right to lead them. Moreover, there are others who had made prior commitments or vows to a party, whether it be political or social, and cannot break rank with their allegiances to their group. 

These life-defining events are not only causing us to think, but they are also happening with the intent to get us to focus. The question that remains to be answered is, “in what direction are you looking for answers?” An answer is merely a response to the question asked, such as a casual nod, or a yes or no response. A lie is also an answer choice, but these responses do not bring resolve to the chaos in the heart and soul of the inquirer. Unfortunately, even within religious circles, too many are pacified with mere answers. For the most part, they are conjured up in the imaginations of people who feel that they need to say something since so many eyes are focused on them. We need more than some flippant answer. We need the Truth! Jesus said, “The Truth (alone) will make you free!” He prefaces this statement by saying, “If you continue in My Word.” Allow me to paraphrase it in the vernacular of these current crises; “if you grow beyond your limited and narrow understanding as it applies to every sphere of life, then you are a real Christian.” A real Christian seeks His answers in what God has already said. Even before the foundations of the world, He has given us the script to guide us through the mazes and around the pitfalls of life. The Light of His Word enlightens our pathway and guides our feet so as not to follow the wayward crowd headed towards their own destruction. There are only two paths that many interpret as three; the right way and the wrong way. Most see it as the right way, the wrong way, and their way. Their way is only legitimized when it is completely surrendered to God’s guidance, and our confidence and trust in Him lead us down a path that is otherwise unknown to us.

Our eyes are wide open when we know that we do not know the answers and can acknowledge our own ignorance independent of the Sovereign God. Paul, who was beforehand Saul of Tarsus, thought that he knew more than he knew. However, his divine encounter with Jesus Christ shifted his limited understanding. Instead of faking it, with all of his pedigree and training, Paul asked the childish question, “Who are You, Lord?” This childlike question positioned him to receive divine revelation. He was introduced to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, for the very first time! Do not be so smart as to miss the most important point in and of your life. Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart through these crises so that He might make Himself known in the midst of your personal and corporate conditions. Will you ask the right question so that you may receive the life-transforming answer that Jesus is making known to you?

Victor Hugo once said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” To paraphrase his statement, “nothing is more powerful than the seed of truth exposing past errors in an age of enlightenment.” When the focus of the world is drawn to a particular ill within society and the underlying evil is highlighted by truth, a disturbance occurs. Even though many of the issues of the past had been addressed, yet the residue of the past remains. The crippling wound upon the souls of an oppressed people placed many of them in a perpetual state of inferiority. The study of epigenetics provides scientific evidence of the effects of slavery and racism within the genes of the children of the oppressed. Biblically speaking, the children carry the wounds of their parents. Any trauma to the soul affects both mind and body. Knowledge places a people in the crossroads. Things can either move towards peace when the Prince of Peace is in charge, or towards vindictive and destructive actions when matters are taken into one’s own hands. Both are movements, but moving in opposite directions. The tragedy of knowledge is the prideful element contained within it. A false awareness of self is full of contradictions. What lenses can one use to fully see himself? If a stationary mirror is used, all one is able to see is the self that he has become rather than the self that he was meant to be. Only through the eyes of God can one be enlightened to discover purpose. We were created for a purpose and that purpose extends far beyond what we have become, or the reflection of self whose focus on which many are affixed. The seed of destruction is deeply rooted in mankind’s efforts to free himself and save himself. He would merely turn from one category of bondage to another. What difference would it make if one was set free from external bondage but transferred to a prison of mental, emotional, and social anguish? He is then carrying his jail around with him. 

The Movement initiated by God, bringing a clearer awareness of the dichotomy within our culture divided by race is opening the window of opportunity for some healthy dialogue. We cannot afford to limit this movement to an agenda established by who spoke first or whose voice is the loudest. This would sabotage what could become a movement that could heal the wounds of former generations of hurt and pain. If God initiated the Movement, then He alone must set the agenda. It had already been set over 2000 years ago. Christ is the agenda. To know Him is to know yourself. To know Him to become acquainted with God’s intentions for your life. Yet if He remains in the shadows, His Word then is reduced to a merely philosophy reinterpreted and often misinterpreted to suit the taste of the interpreter. It is the Living Word and Christ alive in His Church with the responsibility and power to flesh out the will of the Father that must live out His set agenda. Jesus made His agenda clear in Luke 4:16-22 “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,  to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Each of these objectives must be acted upon once they are clearly understood. Then the Church can lead the world in the path of freedom and peace.

Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers, made a statement during the American Revolution. “These are the times that try men’s souls.” This was a challenging time for a nation in its birth pains; today, as the leader of the free world, we are facing a global crisis affecting every avenue of culture.  In these difficult and trying times, we must seek to be as, “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chron 12:32 NKJV). The Coronavirus has become a pandemic reaching every corner of the world. Fear because of uncertainties have gripped the heart of almost every person now alive. The news feeds have created a fixation on one singular subject: “how shall we survive?” The accompanying question is “will we survive?”  Every vital aspect of society and civilization is now being shaken. With these major shifts occurring, our culture is being redefined.    

When unusual things occur, we must first be aware of what happened. Then we must ask the question why it happened. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 1:3 NKJV) Seasons change; they do not remain the same. God prepared the way through His Son as the directive for all living beings. His order was designed before creation for all things to work together in harmonious unity. The interruption of His divine order may not appear as immediate death, but like a flower separated from its roots, those who abandon God’s order and plan eventually wither and fade away. Decisions have consequences. What ought to be is established in Heaven while what exists is expressed under the heaven. “God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest — what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. (1 Cor.  2:7-8  The Message  MSG) A culture that has lost its meaning is a culture that has lost its way. What we see is but a small portion of what is currently occurring.  God gives us His prophetic Word and Spirit to reveal His Word to open our eyes that we may see from His exalted position in Heaven, no longer making arbitrary decisions based on the whims of fallen humanity. There is a way that seems right to the majority but the end of that way leads down a primrose lane to death. The scenery shrouds the poison to make it more palatable. 

This month contains the most sacred week on the Christian calendar. Holy Week began with a trial. The Righteous One, Jesus Christ was tried and found guilty of insurrection. His suffering which led to His death expressed the attitude that the world still maintains concerning Him. The revolt against sound doctrine is the same as shouting “Give us Barabbas and crucify Jesus!” The earth groans in labor and birth pangs awaiting its liberty through the vessels who are mature in Christ. It is dis-eased and waiting to be restored. God’s judgment against the sins committed by those who had aligned themselves with His enemies was through resurrection. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead! He judges the judges of the world with justice and righteousness.

Those of us who fully identify with Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. We have already died and our lives are hidden in Christ. We have already risen with Him and we hold anxious anticipation for what awaits us in the future. When we understand the meaning of things occurring in our times, the next question is, “what shall we do?” On the Day of Pentecost Peter answered the question by saying, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus, and you shall be saved.” What was said then is being said now. As we surrender our all to the King of kings, the life of Christ is yours, thus delivering you from eternal death.   

The Church is called to be salt and light to the world. Our primary assignment is to bring this nation under the influence of those whose standard is aligned with the standard of Christ. To influence is not to dominate or control the will of the people, but to allow the aroma and flavor of Christ to impress upon them to move in a different direction “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1John 5:19.For many, the appeal of that which opposes God’s standard of righteousness is greater than the desire to press into His Kingdom.

According to a study reported by George Barna in 1991, 67% of the US population did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 75%. In 1991, 52% of Evangelicals said they did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 62%. The difference between saying there is no such thing as the truth and living as if truth does not matter is a small one and the consequences for both catastrophic. – Ravi Zacharias

We are a generation that has lost its soul. The soul is the seat of emotions (the mind, the will, the senses). We can see the vulnerabilities of religious leaders who have succumbed to the corrupted policies of spiritually insensitive pontificators; it is evident that too many have bowed to the altars of Baal. Political agendas are now driving religious fervor rather than the Christian ethic and the compassion of Christ taking the lead. Our Presidential election was viewed as the restorative measures of God, taking us back to where God’s agenda was being reestablished, while not even considering the character of those being put in place to accomplish this. We can have faulty policies, but if corrupted minds are to make decisions on our behalf, it is more or less God’s judgment against hypocrisy and the wickedness of Pharisaical religious practices. The House of God is divided. The political House and Senate are divided. It isn’t coincidental that the divide is becoming more obvious than ever before. One nation under the rule of a dictator rather than God is the result of a misguided view of God. It is true that the previous administration had faults, and many of their policies introduced a collapse in moral values, however there was a tremendous degree of bridge building that could lead to a promising future. The right bridges provide access. The wrong bridges pave the way for the enemy to attack us. Now instead of bridges the reversal is taking place. We are attempting to build walls; two extremes of which neither have provided us a righteous and godly nation.

This year I will be ministering on the subject of Godly Influence. How can we accept the fact that without God’s influence upon the hearts of individuals, every decision, regardless of how well intentioned it may be, is made in the darkness? The Liberals are wrong but the Conservatives are equally as wrong. A new paradigm must rise from the ashes of ruin of this Second Civil War. If godly influence, not forced but willfully embraced, a new brand of slavery will emerge where people will be hooked on themselves. Let us all pray, “Lord, send Revival

Attitude determines altitude. You cannot go any higher than your attitude. The right attitude will give rise to success while seeking the right things. The wrong attitude hinders even the most intelligent and skilled individuals from ever reaching their goals. Attitude cannot be forced but is developed over time. Your worldview is the lenses through which you see the world. The effect of life experiences causes thoughts to be fixed in the mind. What you like or dislike; what you accept or reject is the product of a mindset. The mindset is the filter that new experiences must pass through. An old adage I learned in my earlier years was how elephants are trained. I was told that a baby elephant is shackled and the the shackle is attached to a stake in the ground. When the young elephant strains to move beyond the place he is trained to remain, the stake is strong enough to hold him in place. As the elephant grows, even though he has grown stronger, cannot forget the strain of youth when he was too weak to move beyond the allotted space. Therefore he accepts the lie as his reality from past experiences. It is a fact that too many are being trained to believe more in their current circumstances than the promises of God. “He has provided for us all things that provide for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) Yet none of the things given can be fully utilized without possessing the right attitude. The right attitude towards God is the primary blessing which leads to all other blessings. Even the negative experiences provide the opportunity for you to learn lessons in life. Nothing is loss or wasted in God’s economy. “All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, that is, those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) God is able to turn a negative experience into a positive result.

The secret to happiness, peace, and joy is attitude. What you think you will eventually become. As the thoughts enter into your heart, you will eventually be able to see beyond the handicaps of your prior limits. But be aware that limitations are widely accepted when life is restricted to the observable. God alone is able to purify your heart allowing you to see what would otherwise be invisible. Judgments according to God’s rule based upon what He sees will be your guide. When the eyes of your heart are able to see God, His peace will provide you with the security and assurance that all is under control. When the winds and waves of adversity blow whereas in the past your peace would be disturbed, the hope alive within you remains as result of the trust you have in God. When you develop the attitude of gratitude, things are recognized for their ultimate blessing rather than their immediate worth. Every breath breathed is appreciated as gift because you are now aware what it came from. It affords you’re the opportunity to worship God allowing you to see more of who He is. Not only are you to thank God for who He is, but also thank Him for who He uses. Take the time to thank God for family and friends who daily enrich your life. Thank God for the opportunity He affords you to be a blessing to others. There is much more to be grateful for if you merely take the time to think. Life is so much better and each day is so much brighter if you would just develop an attitude of gratitude.