ONE OF THOSE LATTER TIMES II

Yesterday I wrote: As I have commented before in this Journal, the strongest word I received in 2023 was: ‘We are fighting the disintegration of virtue at every level of society.’ That can at first appear negative and doomsdayish or it might be a call to investigate more carefully. Then we looked at 1 Timothy 4:1-3 and the ‘latter time’ when false teachers and demonic influences and deceiving spirits’ would attack the people of God. I believe this is one of those times.

As Isaiah 5:20 says: “Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.” Isaiah 5 has actually six ‘woes’ mentioned: Woe means “grief, anguish, affliction, wretchedness, calamity, or trouble.” The Dictionary of Bible. It means ‘Beware!’ (See verses 8,11,18,20,21,22 of Isaiah 5)

But when “those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter” there is a disintegration of virtue at every level.

But…so be it. The Kingdom of God turns darkness into light, bitter into sweet and wrong into right. This is our instruction: “Repay no one evil for evil. Commend what is honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to God’s wrath, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

Overcome evil with good… there you have it.

“You are the salt of the earth.” Jesus