GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURESRIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATIONDuring a previous presidential election I was in the marketplace and some one began a conversation about how enthusiastic they were about the possibility of having a President that was so intelligent and learned. The statement was made, "We have never had a Rhodes Scholar in the White House before and I can't wait to see all of the wonderful things that will happen in our country with a brilliant and scholarly person in that position." The person was referring to former President Clinton. Knowledge and education is good but if it does not equate with right living then it can be ineffectual. The road map for us to follow is encompassed in the writings of the Judeo-Christian experience. It is not an archaic book, unrelated to current issues but is as current as we will allow it to be. We need to read the scriptures every day. Try never missing a single day. I need to read through the Bible once or twice a year. The reason for this is because I know what a sinner I am. Either sin will keep us from the Bible or the Bible will keep us from sin. The reason for writing this is to remind us that we're all in the same boat as far as having a nature bent toward sinning. Obedient sinners read God's word. It is there that we find the perfect one that died for our sins and forgives us by His grace. The criteria for leading a nation is not just based on being a Rhodes scholar, or intelligent, or highly educated but is based on honesty, integrity, character, and righteousness. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments… (Psalm 111:10). Wisdom ends up being the application of knowledge with understanding.. Solomon writes "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 11:13) That verse is written to the President, the Senators, the Congressmen and to you and me. As far as the scriptures are concerned we're all placed on a level playing field. God is no respecter of persons. With Him there are no double standards. Many are concerned about the taking of polls to determine whether something is right or wrong, approved or disapproved. If 60% of the people approve of an action then it's a majority and the majority rules. It could be called morality by referendum. The Old Testament scripture teaches with regularity that when God's people abandon scriptural principles God raises up a heathen power to judge them. We know that everything that is written in the Bible is written for our admonition, therefore when we are warned about adultery and bearing false witness, we don't need to take a poll to see if the majority agrees. What happens when God's moral standards are rejected? With God's moral standards removed, humanists can justify adultery, sodomy, incest, and other forms of perversion. (Romans 1:26-28) When there is no fear of God and when man tries to decide what is right and wrong, all moral standards become relative and every man ends up doing that which is right in his own eyes. We need God's Word and Jesus Christ as our savior. Let us not be remiss in praying for our leaders for that is also encouraged by scripture. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) |