Do you ever wonder how the dark ’isms of the age have made their way into the forefront of political ambitions in our day?  In the political theater, many politicians, and their accomplices whose commentary and opinions most of us still refer to as “The News,” have no apparent appreciation for the past successes of our beloved constitutional republic.  They unashamedly strive to shift our nation to a new political paradigm.  Some of us are starting to conclude that their intentions are either ignorant or evil, or maybe both.

  These ruling class hopefuls are vying for a revised philosophy of our governance, in which they believe “Democratic Socialism” to be the next best step in a path that, according to Karl Marx, might eventually lead to a New Communist Manifesto of America.  Anyone who has some knowledge of history, and who understands the diverse political theories of our day, might wonder what motivates these rogue patriots. Why do they desire a form of government that has never produced any semblance of the freedoms and privileges already afforded us Americans for almost 250 years now?

  Those who have escaped communism, or have been brave enough to voice their concern over the rigors of life they have experienced under the thumb of a communist regime, have clearly indicated that there is a dark side to Socialistic or Communistic governance.  They have exposed the barbaric mindsets of their communist leaders who, like zoo keepers, tend to view them as ignorant, lower forms of life, in need of their perpetual oversight.

  What can you do to prevent our further slide into the clutches of a heavy handed, godless government?  You can pray, vote, and share your thoughts in the public forums across this land, …but most importantly, you can surrender your life to God, who has promised, “…happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. (Psalm 144:15)”  And, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)”  God’s desire is that you get to know Him through His Son, Jesus (John 3:16).

  Perhaps you have noticed that we are becoming a nation without laws, or at best, one whose laws do not apply to everyone equally.  There is corruption among our leaders, and widespread sin is on the rise.  It is relatively common now, to hear officials say emphatically that another, or several more, 9/11 type terrorist attacks on our soils are inevitable, and that a major economic earthquake is imminent.

  While no human knows what tomorrow holds, perhaps we should stop to consider whether our present state is an evidence of God’s judgment on our nation, and if so, Why? What have we done?  Abraham Lincoln said it best:

  “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, who owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by a history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

  The awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people.

  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has grown, but we have forgotten God.”

  The Bible says very clearly, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… (Psalm 33:12).”  But to sinful Judah God said, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger… (Isaiah 1:4)”  Is this now America’s standing before the Lord?

  And what can we do if this is judgment? We must learn quickly, and repent.

  When we use the phrase, Weight Loss, it is generally referring to the loss of a few pounds to improve one’s body mass index (BMI), and promote good health.  Or perhaps some would think of it in terms of dropping a few inches from their girth, so as to de-escalate the need for purchasing a new wardrobe to adorn their new BMI.

  But there is another realm in which the words Weight Loss might also be applied, namely, in measuring the importance of the items we have placed on our priority lists.  e.g. “Now this is a very weighty matter to me.”  What we mean is that this item is consequential, crucial, or even grave.

  I’m learning that some of the weightier matters in my life may need to experience some weight loss—they are not nearly as important as I once imagined.  Perhaps I have spent too many years majoring on the minors, have been a bit nearsighted in prioritizing the stuff of life, have put too much emphasis on the here and now: the creature comforts that I enjoy, the way of life that I have grown to love, the personal goals that I sought to obtain.  I  see now, I have neglected the spiritual and eternal elements of my existence, giving preference to the less weighty, temporal things of life. 

 How about you?  What are the weighty matters affecting your life?  Perhaps you are thinking about a mate, a diploma, a first house, a career, retirement, or maybe, your poor health.  These are indeed weighty matters, but have you considered the more crucial matters of:  your relationship with the Creator, the divinely issued purpose of life, the eternal abode of your soul, and your influence on the eternal souls of those you love, etc.?

  Perhaps you should join me in putting the temporal things that are on your priority list on a diet so that they seem less weighty in the years you have left, and so that the more weighty matters, that pertain to the unseen and eternal issues of life, will take their rightful place at the top of your list.  God says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these [temporal] things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)”

  In the Middle Ages, the days of kings, knights, serfs and peasants, it was not uncommon to hear someone talk about The Fool.  He was the court jester or the joker of a nobleman’s household, responsible for entertainment.  In our day the title, Fool, has taken on a different meaning; it describes an ignorant person who exercises poor judgment.  Under the inspiration of God, the writers of scripture employ the word many times.  e.g. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)”

  For one to deny the existence of a Being whose wisdom, knowledge and power exceed that of feeble man, is illogical and foolish.  The great design of this universe requires a Great Designer/Creator.  The perfect order that can be observed from the realm of the microscopic to the realm of the galactic, most certainly requires a Sustainer.  The astounding book, the Bible, that contains perfectly harmonious answers to the world’s toughest questions, provides a moral compass for the otherwise wayward and wandering human race, and prescribes a satisfying purpose for all who choose to embrace it, most certainly requires God!  To say otherwise is foolish and undiscerning.

  But many would rather be called a Fool, than to admit there is a God.  They know that if God exists, He would certainly require something of them, but they are determined to be captain of their own soul.  This might seem okay except that God has a plan for fools: the unbelief of a fool is sinful, and “the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).”  God says, “…the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: [Hell] (Revelation 21:8)”

  But God wants you to know that He would “…have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:4)  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  Perhaps you should reconsider.

  The Bible speaks of two realms in which everything living abides.  Those  who are aware of these two realms refer to them as: physical and spiritual, flesh and spirit, temporal and eternal, earthly and heavenly, seen and unseen.  While there are those who ignorantly refuse to believe in anything they cannot see, hear, taste, touch or smell, a growing number of people are beginning to realize that there are realities that loom just beyond their senses.  Some, who grope in the dark (evil) side of those realities, are quite keenly aware of their existence—as are those of us who love the Light (good).  

  In the realm of Light, there are God and Angels, who minister on earth, though their present abode is Heaven.  In the realm of darkness, there are Satan and Demons, who, though unseen, dwell among men to wreak havoc in the earth.  A spiritual battle rages; you are on the battlefield and would do well to understand your enemy.

  The Word of God says, Of Satan’s Origin: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)”  Of Satan’s Ways: “…the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Corinthians 4:4)”  God warns: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1Peter 5:8)”

  The Bible says that you and I were born into darkness, but can become part of the Kingdom of Light.  The Apostles of Christ were sent, “To open their (men’s) eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith… (Acts 26:18)”