My Bible in 18-20 months journey (Who actually does it in a year?) took me into Matthew 24 today. One of my quirks – I write the date I read a chapter next to the heading. Since Julie gave me this Bible for Christmas, this is now the third time through Matthew 24.
Theologically known as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus spent time on the Mount of Olives teaching and prophesying to his disciples. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” I believe that Jesus has a sense of humor and I can almost hear him preface his words recorded in Matthew 24 with, “Well. You asked…”
Jesus then goes on to say how it will be and the signs that will accompany his return. That may be why I have revisited this chapter three times since December. Ultimately I remember what he taught – no one knows the day and hour – and Jesus will return when he decides and commands.
That said, a specific verse leapt off the page at me today…
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12
In the year that has passed since I left the radio business, and in the six months since I exited the congressional race, I have discovered something I have never had – time. In that margin I now have with time, I have, for the first time in my life, truly leaned in to studying the Bible. Here’s what my study has highlighted: My sin.
Wow. Aren’t I a joyful guy?! Look, I am not giddy bout my sin. I am thankful I am now more aware of it and can ask God to highlight that sin and help me repent from it. Because of the awareness of my own sin, I have also become more aware of the sin in the world. Again, “oh joy.” Look, I am not here to be preachy and I am certainly not the judge of the world. God is. All I do is pray for repentance from said sin.
And it is everywhere. This is a fallen world and we humans are fallen creatures. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. It would be one thing if the world was trying to deal with its sin. Recognize it. Call it out. Lay it before God and repent of it.
But it’s not. Just the opposite. That which is sin is now celebrated in the name of inclusion and acceptance. Drag queen story hours and pride months galore. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. There is forgiveness, but only if there is a sincere effort at repentance.
I think a lot about how this is societally corrected and I conclude that this cannot be corrected in the halls of government, it must be corrected in the hallows of our hearts. Ben Franklin’s, “A Republic, if you can keep it” applies. You cannot legislate that someone live morally – that must come from the sincere desire of that individual to be moral.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Adams, in a letter to the Massachusetts Militia on October 11, 1798.
Sin will be everywhere. This is what the Bible says. I conclude that the most effective way we can deal with that is to deal with our own sin first, and then let Jesus shine through us as an example for others.
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