Freedom of Choice

Today Barack Obama was sworn in again as President of the United States of America. His presidency has been very controversial. Our nation is now quite split between conservatives and liberals. Congress is constantly fighting over proposed laws. The gay community seems to be more visible. Schools are now a target for violence. Iran and Israel are about to go to war. North Korea is trying to create a nuclear missle to be able to hit our country. So one may ask, where is God in all of this mess?

God has never left the scene and will never leave. People don't "see" God because they don't look for Him. I compare it to trying to see air. You can't see air but you can see the result of air by the wind! You can't see God but you can see His result in life. When people put God into their lives, you see the result. When you look around this earth, you see the awesome wonders that He created. Only an open heart and true desire will God be open to you.

We are now embarked on another 4 years with President Obama and whether you like him or agree with his policies, he still is the president and God requires us to respect that office as hard as it may be for us. God will always be in charge but He has given everyone freedom of choice even when we make the wrong ones. 30 years ago I decided to make Jesus Christ the Lord of my life and that act absolutely changed me. I will always stand up for what I believe even in the midst of controversey.

Our country was founded upon Christian Biblical principles. There are people who no longer want to follow those principles and are trying to change our country for their own desires. Mant presidents in the past have stood upon these principles. Here are a few quotes from Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the USA:

I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle.
--February 21, 1861

Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.
--September 11, 1858

Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance on God, knowing that all would go well, and that He would decide for the right.
--October 24, 1863

The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong.
--September 1862

All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.
--September 7, 1864

. . . so that truth, and justice, and mercy, and all the humane and Christian virtues might not be extinguished from the land; so that no man would hereafter dare to limit and circumscribe the great principles on which the temple of liberty was being built.--August 17, 1858

In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am, and as we all are, to work out His great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to His will, and that it might be so, I have sought his aid -- but if after endeavoring to do my best in the light which He affords me, I find my efforts fail, I must believe that for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise.
--on October 26, 1862

There are many more quotes I could put here but from the above you can understand where his heart was at. There comes a time in all of our lives when we must make serious decisions about where we stand on various issues the most important being where you will be spending eternity. God gave us the ability to make choices. In four years we will have another choice for president. You may not be here tomorrow for no one knows what will happen tomorrow. The Bible is either right or wrong. You have the freedom of choice to seek the truth.

Satan calling you?

Can you imagine spending time with Jesus when He suddenly turns to you and says, “Oh, by the way, the devil has been asking for you by name.” “The devil? You mean, like . . . Lucifer himself?” “Yeah. That’s right.”

That is what happened to Peter. He and the other disciples had just celebrated the Last Supper with Jesus when He dropped this revelation on them: “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there” (Matthew 26:31–32). But Peter replied, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you” (verse 33).

So Jesus essentially said, “Well, since you brought it up, Rock, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you ever knew Me. And listen to this, Peter: Satan has been asking excessively that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God.”

The good news is that Jesus was praying for Peter. And Jesus is praying for you. Romans 8:34 says, “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Jesus is in your corner. He is interceding for you. Bible commentator Robert Murray McCheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Were it not for the prayers of Jesus, I wouldn’t stand a chance. Neither would you. I rely on Him everyday. Who do you rely upon?