We all hear about New Year's Resolutions but what if we Christians truly resolved to thank God from whom all our blessings flow in this coming year? What a difference that would make the world over.
In Romans 1:28-32
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
We have above as a warning. Today we have vast information before us on the history of man and so much about the truth of Jeus Christ. But many today would rather put their faith and trust on man rather than on Jesus Christ.
We see the result of that in a Europe whose faith in Christ is so diminished (parallels their downward national slide) and yet with all their intellectual pride about them that they can save the world from global catastrophe (more climate change conferences). You would think from Hitler (one man's incredible rise to power and search for intellectual super race) that a lesson on the failings of man fully dependent on his intellect would stick as after all it came with worldwide costs.
But then this is what happens when men forget where the blessings come from. Germany would do well to learn more about their great men of God such as Dietrich Boenhoeffer and many others. France would do well to remember their Joan of Arc, England would do well to remember their William Wilberforce.
I plan on reading Eric Metaxas new book Boenhoeffer--I hope so will you and learn the story of a man who took on the full counsel of God and decided to act and give his all. May Germans revere his legacy amidst Hitler's and ask themselves whose constructs are they following more these days? When we hear of Christian home-schooling families in trouble with their German government, one wonders have they not learned at all of the path they are re-visiting?
Leo Alexander, who was consultant to the Secretary of War and on duty with the office of Chief Counselor for War Crimes in Nuremberg, says that what happened in Nazi Germany "all started with the acceptance of the attitude that there is such a thing as life not worthy to be lived."
An elderly German man who lived through the Holocaust tells the following story:
I always considered myself a Christian. I attended a church since I was a small boy. We had heard the stories of what was happening to the Jews; but like most people in America today, we tried to distance ourselves from the reality of what was really taking place. What could anyone do to stop it?
A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each Sunday morning we would hear the whistle from a distance and then the clacking of the wheels moving over the track. We became disturbed when one Sunday we heard cries coming from the train as it passed by. We grimly realized that the train was carrying Jews.
Week after week that train whistle would blow. We would dread to hear the sound of those old wheels because we knew that the Jews would begin to cry out to us as they passed our church. It was so terribly disturbing! We could do nothing to help these poor people, yet their screams tormented us. We knew exactly at what time that whistle would blow, and we decided the only way to keep from being so disturbed by the cries was to start singing our hymns. If some of the screams reached our ears, we'd just sing a little louder until we could hear them no more.
Years have passed, and no one talks about it much any more; but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians, yet did nothing to intervene.
This year hopefully, may be a year, for more to remember where their true blessings come from and what it truly means to be a Christian. Beyond our church walls is a world that needs us to be involved and show Christ. May America and the world remember the effects of the one whose birth we just celebrated. Many througout history has given their very best, as his followers, and may we remember with grateful hearts their legacy. Maybe then, Europe can come out of its downward spiral and along with America and the rest of the world, truly learn from the One who came as a Light to the world.
Faith in Christ vs Faith in Man--choose well--read history starting with the Bible--for your eternal future depends it. America's history shows that great men knew America needs to pray. Hope you will for yourself too.
Ben Franklin--
In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, graciously answered....
I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel...
I therefore beg leave to move- henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business...
This article inspired by Hosea 11 --God's love and man's ungratefulness.