Turning the World Upside Down Series 1: The First Cycle of Discipline My thoughts drift back to a cool, crisp morning in what would usually mark another humid, hazy day in Spartanburg, SC. It was September, so it wasnt completely out of the ordinary for humidity levels to drop a bit, and for all my coworkers with their thoughts of wishing to be outside rather than inside a stuffy building with an equally stuffy boss, what bubbled into their stream of consciousness was a bit of resentment, that resentment weve all felt from time to time of wanting to have some leisure outside, staring at the deep blue sky, lying on the grass, even if just for a moment. This day was different in every way imaginable! The air was completely still, almost palpable in its comfort. The sky was so blue that professional photographers were no doubt having ecstatic experiences, as they captured light in a certain way, the deep blue sky in the background, framing their photos between tall oaks, marveling and wondering with excitement if they could just get that one photo that could win an award. Thats the best way I can recall that day in all of its picture perfect beauty. There was something very wrong on that day, and it was something that had been wrong for many days and many years prior. America was changing. I could see it, and yet with my usual optimistic attitude, I thought for sure the ship would eventually right itself, as it had done time and time again in American history. I would soon learn that things truly arent the way they should be, that all of my inner thoughts regarding the spiritual malaise of believers was about to become extraordinarily real in my life. The world was about to be turned upside down, but this time, we were turning in the wrong direction. Since throughout my lifetime there had already been great spiritual standard bearers, meaning there were those great theologians, pastors, teaching grace and doctrine, there were those who constantly studied and disseminated Gods word and created what I call a shield of invisible heroes, those in their congregations who responded to grace, shielding us with their invisible shield given to them by God that had from heretofore protected us from much of the terror that happens everyday in other countries. We were entering into a time that was outside of my frame of reference. It wasnt the usual things I had become accustomed to, the daily prosperity of Americans living their lives in the greatest land God gave earth, enjoying their prosperity, and enjoying all the free time and all the nuances of having a career and employment that bring a certain amount of joy and confidence to ones life. Then that fateful beautiful morning, it happened. The songs we had always listened to like clockwork made their 50th or 60th debut on an antiquated radio, but suddenly, without warning, and with the eeriness of a Stephen King movie, the music stopped. Emergency messages began to blast over the radio, concerning the fact that a plane had hit the Word Trade Center. It was beautiful in New York too. I knew this, as I am a weather fanatic, and immediately my alarm bells went off. I nearly shouted, Planes dont fly into buildings on clear days! Everyone else was unconcerned, as the news reported it was a small plane. I had no access to internet or television, but the idea of it seemed too strange, except that I had finally settled on believing that the plane was a smell Cessna. Perhaps, the guy had a heart attack or was under the influence. Who knew? But in my mind, I relegated it to a mere aberration, an unfortunate incident that wasnt earth shattering. Then came the next report. I remember it almost in exact succession, Another plane has hit the World Trade Center. My mind wasnt able to distinguish World Trade Center I with world Trade Center II, as I am not a New Yorker, but nonetheless, this time I was certain we were under attack, and yet I had seen no imagines. The ladies from the offices adjacent to us allowed me to see the actual footage. A small plane? I shouted! I knew it was on. I knew war was on our very doorstep, and I didnt feel insulated from these attacks, but at the same time I was fearless. My face became flush, knowing, on the one hand, that this must happen to jar believing Americans toward their first love of the Word of God, and on the other hand, very ready to do whatever necessary, even though I was an older-than-usual man to join the military. Every emotion possible flooded my body, and since I have a complexion naturally predisposed to expressing higher than usual blood pressure through an unnatural illumination of red, you can believe I probably looked as red as an apache on the warpath. The office was more abuzz now, but none of them had the least bit of concern that had furrowing my brow into a washboard. From my knowledge of the fact that America had been in spiritual malaise, I knew it was a matter of time before the justice of God would lay down His hammer, not out of hate, but because we all need a big wake up call in life. The same goes for nations. This nation needed a wake up call. Then the cherry on top was the report that a plane had hit the Pentagon. The Pentagon, even my boss with her incessent drilling away at her computer was shocked from her daily routine. That cant be true she said. Its a bad report. Well, it wasnt a bad report. We were once again dragged into the office next door, where we saw the flames from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and then suddenly a report of an unknown plane, somewhere, but the news media didnt elaborate. The Pentagon! A young lady in our office shouted. THIS IS WAR! The entire office building was now abuzz, with therapists and doctors running here and there to get the latest news, canceling appointments, trying to figure out what every detail of what was happening. My boss continued typing furiously, as if to block from her mind the very fact that the greatest nation on earth was being brought to its knees by a few thugs. Why? Because America had not been brought to her knees in grateful prayer to a loving God to name their sins directly to God rather than entertaining guilt or any form of self-justification or self-deception. It wasnt until a therapist ran into our room and said, America is under attack! What you are typing now is meaningless! that my boss seemed to obtain some modicum of normal human compassion and sensibility and turn the radio up and look at some of the video. Much time has passed since September 11, 2001, and after a brief period of emotional patriotism, justified protection of the homeland, things began to go on as normal, and some modicum of past life returned, outside of the airports. Yet we were not awaken by that strong warning from God. Some even have the belief that God does not warn in such a way, but we must keep in mind what the Word of God has to say. Amos 3:6 - When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it? When a trumpet sounds in the city has something very similar to do with our emergency broadcasting system. The Bible is asking when things suddenly occur, are we not made aware of it? Then the verse goes on to extrapolate that not only do the people become aware of it, but that the Lord Himself has caused it. So from Scripture, it is obvious, that the Lord causes certain disasters to occur upon his divinely appointed, set-apart nations that he has brought to His side throughout history, of which we are merely one. This should help us understand that events in history are not random, but the events are used to advance the plan of God. The first cycle of discipline is explained in Scripture. It is explained as a wake up call for us not to come to understand morality, but to rather come to understand what has been given to use in this unique spiritual life of the Church Age. Our God only asks Whoever has an ear, let him hear! Are you willing to hear, believer? Leviticus 26:14 and 15 - But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror... So we have surely experienced the first cycle of discipline. Weve moved beyond this in our rejection of Gods grace plan for us. Stay tuned for Series 2 on the Second Cycle of Discipline.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:57:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015