GOD Shrugged!!

Yes, for some of you, the title sounds like Ayn Rand's nefarious call to selfishness in her novel, "Atlas Shrugged." What she outlines in the book is nothing new. In fact, it hearkens back to the Garden of Eden . . . when the snake entered the scene, that is! Funny, isn't it, how many times the world vilifies Christianity as outmoded, ignorant, or just plain silly, but then proceeds to put up a philosophy that is ten times more mentality implosive than anything one could ever witness among men of real faith! Let us not be hood-winked. Nor let us be duped into believing that this book offers anything we really need for today even if that winsome Glen Beck pushed it on TV last week. 

Remember, believers, let's NOT draw our teachings off the radio and TV. I know that sounds elementary, but it's sometimes quite disappointing when one comes upon those who should know better, but who nonetheless "swallow" just about anything TV personalities say. Remember, they are often puppets. Rarely do we find true men of integrity speaking. And how does one know the difference? Simple (in a way) . . . we compare everything with Scripture. Be munificent in knowing God's Word, sparing in regards to knowledge of the world. 1 Corinthians 1:26–27 says, "Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." Christians have been lambasted because of their seeming ignorance (perhaps with some justification at times). But let that not dictate our pursuit of truth, the knowledge of which is critical to the setting free of the soul. 

But, truth itself will not set you free, unless you believe it. Thus, Jesus prefaced that well-known verse with these words: "If you abide in my word (i.e., "live there"), you are truly my disciples . . . then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). IF you abide in me, then you will know. An important but often overlooked contingency.

In the end, God will have them in derision (Ps. 2:4). God will laugh at the foolish machinations of man rising up against the Lord God and against his anointed. He will have the last laugh. The wise man writes: "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD" (Prov. 21:30). Indeed, it will not have been Atlas, but God who shrugged as if to say, "Really? You thought you could overcome me and destroy my people?"  

"Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth" (Ps. 2:10).