To my Jewish friends, I want to begin with "Chag Pesach Sameach" - Happy Passover. Passover officially began at sundown this past Monday evening. It is a time of festive celebration and remembrance of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. For the next three evenings, the church I serve as Preaching Pastor will be celebrating the Seder. During the Seder we will be focusing upon those portions of that meal that Jesus used as symbols of His impending death for our sins.
Even though this is Holy Week and Passover, world events continue to dramatically unfold around us. The situation on the island of Cyprus is another wake-up call to the fragility of the world's economy. Those individuals who hold accounts in Cyprian banks above $130,000 will now be taxed at 40%, thus reducing the savings of many individuals and families significantly. Just ask yourself this question: If the U.S. government declared that, in order to pay down the country's debt, every bank account or investment account over $100,000 would be taxed 40%, what would be your response? Cypriots, in haste to draw down their accounts, could only remove $130 per day. What confidence do you think they have in their government right now who has said that they would protect financial accounts within government banks? What confidence would you have in the U.S. government if they taxed those accounts that they have said they would protect? Friends, I believe this is just another wake-up warning reminding us of the impending financial collapse around the globe and of Satan's "man of the hour" being revealed. If my understanding of Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 2 about the restrainer of the man of lawlessness being the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, then can the Rapture be far away? Even if my understanding of those words is not accurate, that does not nullify the nearness of a scenario that will bring about the introduction of the Antichrist.
Another sign that we cannot ignore. I have shared with you from time to time about the rapid moral descent of our nation. As reported by Drew Zahn on WND.com on March 23, "students from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School, or PVPA - which serves 400 pupils, grades 7-12, in South Hadley, Mass. - on March 15-17 performed the controversial play, 'The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.' A 1998 Paul Rudnick comedy that had a run in theaters in New York City, 'The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told' alters the biblical book of Genesis to include homosexual couples Adam and Steve and Jane and Mabel in the Garden; as well as a 'horny' rhinoceros that tries to seduce men on the Ark; and Mary, the mother of Christ, arguing she can't be pregnant, because she's a lesbian" The article then relates that at St. Timothy's United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, IA, at its living Nativity scene in December 2010, two women were featured instead of a man and woman starring as Joseph and Mary. The pastor, Rev. Linda Butler, was quoted, "It's not very ground breaking at all to use the youngest baby in the congregation to play the role of Jesus. The parents just happened to be two women. They were playing the role of the Holy Family, not necessarily Mary and Joseph. We never referred to the moms as Mary and Joseph. We referred to them as the Holy Family." How much longer before God says, "I am giving you over to the depravity of your minds and hearts?"
Fox News Radio reported on an incident that occurred at Florida Atlantic University. It was reported by Todd Starnes on March 21, and can be found at www.radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/professor-makes-students-stomp-on-jesus. The instructor, Deandre Poole, had told the students in his Intercultural Communications class, to write the name "Jesus" on a sheet of paper. Then they were told to put the paper on the floor, stand up, and stomp on it. One young student, a devout Mormon named Ryan Rotela, refused to do that and said to the teacher, "With all due respect to your authority as a professor, I do not believe what you told us to do was appropriate. I believe it was unprofessional and I was deeply offended by what you told me to do." Now that student is facing disciplinary action from the University. The question is asked, "Why stomp on the name Jesus? Why not stomp on the name Mohammed or Buddha or Pope Francis? If the purpose of the lesson was to "discuss the importance of symbols in culture," why was Jesus chosen as the symbol? I think it shows the prevailing attitude in academia toward Christ and His followers.
Friends, aren't you grateful for that wonderful news that "He is risen...He is risen indeed?" Aren't you grateful for that exciting hope we have in the return of Jesus for us...hopefully very soon? I believe the world is going to become an increasingly more hostile place for those who are committed followers of Jesus Christ. Those very principles we have held dear are being assaulted viciously at times. Marriage is being redefined, not according to God's definition, but according to the cultural screams of the crowds today.
Let me, just for a moment, make a connection that God has impressed upon my heart these past few days. On Palm Sunday, the crowds enthusiastically shouted, "Hosanna." Now that word means "save us." Those people were looking for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem and save them from Roman tyranny. A few days later, many of those same people shouted, "Crucify Him." Little did they know that they were asking for that very thing that would bring them the salvation they had asked for the previous Sunday - a salvation not from Rome's tyranny, but from the tyranny of sin. In essence, they would receive the answer to their request - they just did not know it. I believe that the crowds today are shouting to God what they want - certainly not "Hosanna" or "save us", but "set us free so we can do what our hearts want to do." And, according to Romans 1, such a day of God's "setting them free" to do exactly what they desire will soon be upon them. What a sad day for them! What a joyous day for us as we await the return of our resurrection Lord and Savior!
So, with joy on Sunday proclaim to one another - "He is risen...He is risen indeed!" And then share that good news with those who are still in darkness and fear about tomorrow.
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