A 'Lost' Generation

All I could see last night was a sea of people, literally.  Granted I was in the mall and waiting for the first evening run, but it was without a doubt, as I said, as sea of people.  

I cannot recall that many people being in the mall at one time on any given day other than holiday shopping.  The restaurants were full of people, even across the parking lot McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and the Chinese restaurants were all filled with people.  

Despite the bustling activity and noise of laughter and conversations, I found No joy in what I was seeing as friends and family caroused the mall.  

Matthew 23:37 (as Jesus ponders the fate of Jerusalem) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."  

How many times have I walked this mall and not felt anything for the people around me?  How many times have I just looked the other way?  

Jesus saw the condition of the people in Jerusalem as the Passover celebration drew near.  It caused his heart to ache with much sorrow.  Why?  Many will attend the feast of Passover not all are covered by the blood.  Jesus so wanted to reach all of these people and yet He knew not all would accept what He had to say.  Israel had the writings of Moses and the prophets to teach them of God's divine plan, but they would not embrace all of what was said by Jesus as He fulfilled the words they grew up learning.

As I look at the faces of babies, kids, young adults and older persons I cannot help but experience the same sorrow that Jesus felt over Jerusalem.  Have they been told abut Jesus?  Do they know that they are lost and in need of salvation?   How many are celebrating life and friends and family and not know that the Lamb is returning soon?  Matthew 24:37 (Jesus speaking on His second coming) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."  How many have heard the truth and rejected it?  

What am I doing other than blogging about it? (Silence)

For years I have heard 'generational' terms like the greatest generation, generation x, the tech generation and countless others.  But the 'lost generation' spans the ages because all of us are dead spiritually.  It is the lost ness of our soul that needs the biggest headline.  Reread the words of Christ in Matthew 24:37 "this generation".  Not hard to figure out who they are.  You, me and all who have sojourned this planet until He comes back to call the believers home to heaven.  

Whatever generation is here when Jesus returns will experience a greater loss when they realize they have been left behind and missed out on finding eternal salvation.  

?

When Lord?

Please tell me when.

My Morning Psalm

My heart will not become faint or weary, You My mighty King are my strength.

In Your right hand You hold me.  With Your left hand You defeat the enemies of my flesh.

Preserve me Father until the day of Your return.  

Hide me in the shadow of Your glory where darkness cannot come near.

I will seek You, only You.  

I desire to live in Your presence in the house of the LORD. 

I will not fear

I will not falter

I will not be moved

You are my refuge

You are my strong tower

You are the Rock my feet are planted on

The beauty of the LORD is His glory

In His holiness man will be found wanting

In His righteousness man will be judged

Redeemer of my soul

God of my salvation

Breath of my finite life

My heart shall trust in You

Lift me up upon eagles wings so that I may soar to the heavens

Nearer my god to thee

LORD it is my plea

To draw nearer to thee

Lift up my head above the dread

From the wickedness of men whose souls are dead

As I hope in You my soul finds rest

Shout for joy my righteous cause

God is the King of all the earth

Sing praises with understanding.

Famous Quotes

God cannot reveal to us if we have not His spirit.

Oswald Chambers

0737

Breakfast this morning.  

Famous Quotes

We think we must climb to a certain height of goodness before we can reach God.  But...if we are in a hole the Way begins in the hole.  The moment we set our face in the same direction as His, we are walking with God.

Helen Wodehouse

Back to the Start

Every year on or about the time of January first people across the globe will make a promise to themselves to either change something about themselves, look for ways to help others or try something different or just be a better person in the new year.   I myself have fallen into this 'trap' and for a few days, sometimes weeks or several months was able to stay the course and do whatever it was it I had set out doing beginning the first of January.  

Eventually, as I moved on further in the year I stumbled and missed a day or reverted to the old man ( my behavior from the previous year I wanted to NOT carry with me.)  I would say to myself, "self just start again tomorrow."  The problem with that, was me, trying to 'will' myself into doing something I was not capable of doing.  That is perfecting change.  

The account of the Prodigal Son from the gospel of Luke comes to mind when I think about resolutions.  He asked his father for his inheritance, moved to another town and squandered it on needless things and poor decision making.  How could this in any way possible be about a New Years resolution?  Stay with me.

It says in Luke 15:17  when he had come to himself (the son) said " how many of my fathers servants have enough food to eat, and then some, yet I am dying from hunger because I have nothing to eat?"

This young man was taking stock of the past few months or year of his life and was not very pleased with how it has turned out.  (Cough, cough) sounds familiar right?

Still with me?  

Good.  

The son makes two decisions in the next verse.  First, he is going back to the start, his fathers house, the only home that he has probably known since his birth.  Second, he realizes, he has sinned against his Heavenly Father first, and earthly father second.  New Years resolutions are good and as I said I have made a few in my time.

But, but.....

Waiting for the start of the new year and making those oaths to effect change within ourselves will not produce lasting change.  Why?  Our moral fiber is corrupted by our sin nature.  The prodigal son saw this and sought to correct it.  Remember what he said "I have sinned against heaven (God first) and then before you (earthly father).  The spiritual compass of the younger son needed to be recalibrated back to the heart of God. 

Verse 21 the son returns home and says to his father, " I have sinned against God and you and am no longer worthy to be called your son."  

Sin separates us from God.  Therefore we are not worthy to be called children of God.

This son resolved in his heart to make things right with God, through repentance, and then doing the same with his dad.  Unless we purpose in our hearts to get right with God first, we will continue to follow the wasteful and destructive lifestyle we always have.  Year after year after year. 

Most people do not seek to get right with God, because they have pushed aside the notion He can do more for them than they can for themselves or that they need Him.  But we do.

If you really want to start over again, then go "back to the start".  Go back to your Heavenly Father who created you with His very own hands.  Go back to the time where you felt you no longer needed Him.  Need Him now.  

Just as the prodigal son received love and compassion and kisses from his father, you too can receive love, compassion and kisses from God above.  

The father says of his son " he was dead (sin) and is now alive (forgiven) again; he was lost (spiritually) and now is found (right with God).  A feast was thrown and the son has been restored.

Are you in need of restoration? The new year does not provide it.  Nor does any man.  Only God does. Are you a 'prodigal child' of the Most High?   Go back to THE FATHER!  Go back to the start.  Do not confess yourself before men (resolutions), confess yourself before God (sins) and begin the new year with a new life.  

Back to the Start (epilogue)