There are certainly many indications today that we are living in the last days, and that we are inching closer and closer to the coming of Jesus Christ to rescue the godly ones from this evil world. One of these indications (or signs) is the increase of lawlessness spoken of in Matthew 24:12. In this context Jesus is speaking of that period of time called “the Tribulation,” in which many false prophets will arise and mislead many (v. 11); and because of lawlessness (sinfulness), people will grow to hate and betray one another (vv. 10-12).
And during that time of tribulation there will arise one called the “lawless one,” who is known as the antichrist. At first, during the first part of the Tribulation, he will be restrained by God from doing his great evil; but at the midpoint of the Tribulation those restraints will be removed, and being empowered by Satan, he will then be free to do great lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3-12).
Of course, we are not now in the Tribulation; but, as I said, we have indications that we are fast arriving. I say that mainly because of the present attitude we have toward law enforcement and the police department. Certain groups like Black Lives Matter, along with many liberal democrats and the media, are now pushing the idea of defunding the police department and even abolishing it. Can you imagine what will happen if that idea becomes a reality? There would be chaos and no law and order—lawlessness!
According to Scripture (2 Thess. 2:7), “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work.” This means, according to John MacArthur, that the “The spirit of lawlessness [is] already prevalent in society, but [it is] still a mystery in that it has not been fully revealed [in the coming antichrist].”
Hence, what I get from that, is that this attitude we have in society about wanting to be free of the police, is in our sinful spirit. But we do not see what is coming and how damaging that spirit can be in us. In a sense we all want to be free of the law, because we are all sinners. But we often fail to see how God has given us authority figures like the police to help us and keep us safe.
I think this country should do all it can to shut down this radical idea of defunding the police department. But if it happens that we are not able to do it, or if our government isn’t willing to do it, we Christians need to be aware, and even comforted in the fact that His coming is near!
Jesus deals with this topic of the mortification of sin in Matthew 5:29-30.
“And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 “And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Some do not identify this passage as one that deals with the mortification of sin, but D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his book, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount insists that it does. And notice that it comes directly after verses 27-28, which deals with the sin of adultery; or more precisely, adultery in the…
When I was about 14 years old I was sexually abused. I won’t go into it, but it happened 3 or 4 times and it has had a very disturbing and harmful effect on my life. I know that many have been abused (and raped) much more than me, and my devastation is small compared to theirs. I can imagine the pain and bitterness and anger they feel, and how they have cried out to God and found no help. I know that there are many young girls and boys who have gone through much—much more than me. And we should pray for a them that God will hear their cries.
The Outcry to the Lord against Sodom and Gomorrah
When Abraham was called by the Lord to go into the land of Israel, he brought with him Sarah his wife and his nephew Lot. And, as it happened, Lot settled in the beautiful valley of the Jordan near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the men there were wicked and sinned greatly against the Lord (Gen. 13:13). Well, the bible tells us that the outcry to the Lord against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great that He decided to destroy the cities (and the people) by fire (Gen. 18:20; 19:13).
I’m not sure if we know for sure who was crying out to the Lord. At first I assumed it was all the people in the cities who were being sexually abused. Then I thought that since the wicked abusers also suffer a penalty for their perversion (Rom. 1:27), they may also be crying out. I also have considered that it could be angels who have witnesses the evil doings and have cried out. I’m not sure if we can know for certain; but certainly, it would come from the innocent young people.
Nonetheless, if you read the account of the evil there (from Gen. 18:20-19:29), it will make you sick to read just how lustful and perverted the men of Sodom were—both young and old, and how they came at Lot and his two guests (angels who looked like men) in order to have sex with them. Those cities were undeniably wicked; and by the description, the people had given themselves over to unnatural lusts and homosexual perversion. Thus, God had no option but to destroy them all, except Lot and his two daughters; they were spared.
God Will Hear Our Cries and Bring Justice
Let the people cry out, and God will hear them. It may take a while, but He will hear us and He will bring justice and vengeance to our enemies. In the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:10-11), during the Tribulation, many will be martyred for their faith, and from heaven they will cry out to God to avenge their blood. It says.
And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
In this passage we see that justice is so important. That God will not let the guilty go unpunished. He will hear the cries of those who have been sinned against, and He will judge the guilty.
God’s Commandment to Us Regarding Homosexuality
We have already seen (in Genesis) how God treated the people who were inflicted with that sin. It became so bad that He had to destroy them all. Eventually God rose up a people who would follow Him and be His own. Through them he would show the world His will. It was through His servant Moses that He gave this commandment to all men: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”
The Progression of Sin Leading to And Beyond Homosexuality
In Romans 1:18-32, Paul shows us the progression of sin, and through it all how His wrath is revealed against the sinner. Note how the sin of unnatural affection, or homosexuality, comes about through man’s own choices. Here is the passage followed by the 7-point progression.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
They suppressed the truth by their wickedness. The truth about God was plain to them, but they chose not to believe it.
Their foolish heart was darkened. They became blind to the truth.
They became idol worshippers. They chose to worship other things instead of God.
God gave them up to their sinful desires. They chose sexual impurity with one another.
God gave them over to shameful and unnatural lusts and unnatural relations. Men had sexual relations with men and women with women.
They received the due penalty in themselves for their perversion. We are not told what this is, but we may assume it is guilt, sorrow and disease.
God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they would do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, etc. (from vv. 29-32).
I hesitate to write on this subject because I don’t always feel close to Him. Sad but true. Many may say that they feel the Lord’s nearness all the time. Good for them. That’s the way it should be. And I strive for that. The Psalmist said, “The nearness of God is my good” (Ps.73:28). Sometimes I really feel His nearness, but many times I feel dragged down by my sins. Sin is the whole cause of distance and we need His mercy. He is always there waiting to lift us up.
In terms of my relationship with God, well, His love for me I know is constant. But my love for Him is ever wavering. I am a bit of a rebel. I know I am too much in the world. I let myself see too much of the world’s entertainment. If it wasn’t for the mercy of the Lord, I would be engulfed in sin’s miseries. But He again and again pulls me out of it—causes me to come to Him. This whole thing, this post, sounds like a confession. I suppose it is. Truthfully, that’s what my relationship with God is—my sins and His mercy and grace. I wade in the mud, then I come to Him, and He cleans me up with soap and water.
I longingly wait for the time when we all will be continually sharing His glory, when all sin and evil will be eradicated and forgotten, and when all our tears will be wiped away.
Stephen Nielsen 