Get Close To The Lord

DECISIONS, THEY ARE YOURS, MAKE THEM # 1

Deuteronomy 11:26-28a
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God,”

Years ago, a visitor came to America seeking the secret of her greatness. “I went into America’s mines, but I did not find the secret to her greatness. I went into her factories, and I did not find it. I went into her legislative halls and I found it not’ but when I heard the preachers of America thundering against sin and unrighteousness - calling America back to God. - then I understood the secret to America’s greatness. America is great because America is good. When America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

One hundred years have passed since that visitor made his tour. And now America has ceased to be great? Has she ceased to be good? Is she as good as she was a hundred years ago? Listen, America was begun in prayer by people on bended knee, before an open Bible. She was not built on her natural resources. She was not built on her vast land areas, or her great manpower. The original thirteen colonies
were established on religious principles. God blessed this country with all the bounties of heaven. Have we taken theses blessings that He has given us and wasted them in riotous living?

Many have forgotten God. By some, God has been denied, Christ dethroned, and the Bible defied. Some men deny the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, the virgin birth, the efficacy of the atonement, the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, heaven, and hell. And a few even contend that God is dead. Too many schools are taught by unbelievers who deny the tenets of the Christian faith. Academic freedom
has been interpreted by some preachers as license for revolt and insurrection. Some teachers seek to destroy the system that has built the universities that train them and pay their salaries. There has to be an answer - and there is - the Bible. The Bible is relevant today as it was in yesteryear.

God’s message in the book of Malachi is as up to date as today’s newspaper.

Malachi 1:7-10
“Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.”

Malachi 3:6
“For I am the LORD, I change not;”

This is God’s message to his people in every day and every age. The Bible is relevant; it never is out of date. It is both timely and timeless, a message for every age. Shall we hear what he has to say? Or shall we go the way of every nation that has rejected and forgotten God.? God does not sit idly by and watch with unconcern as his people continue in sin. Sometimes captivity is his way of dealing with his people in bringing them back to his will. Sometimes it takes the chastening hand of God to get us to wake up.

Israel was aware of her privilege of choice. Our text. Nehemiah had been privileged to bring the children of God out of captivity, back into the homeland.. The temple had been rebuilt and this great prophet of God remained with the people for twelve years telling them of the goodness of God. He took seriously God’s word.

Malachi 2:7
“For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”

Now after twelve years, Nehemiah went back to Persia. The people soon forgot God and drifted back into sin again. Then God spoke to his people through Malachi. We see God bringing his messenger on the scene when the people were steeped in sin. The whole point is a question. Why don't Christian people just decide to keep their eyes on the Lord instead of constantly trying to take things into our own hands?

Russell Stolp
Chaplain, CFO

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.