Blue In the Face
By Rob Pue
Well, I guess it’s official: I’m now “blue in the face.” The kind of blue that frustrated people get when they’ve said something so many times, they say they’ve done it ‘til they’re “blue in the face.”
Recently, I received an email from someone who reads my commentaries on one of the many online platforms that republishes my messages from Wisconsin Christian News and our radio broadcasts. This is someone who contacts me frequently, always starting out telling me how they enjoyed my message and agreed with most of it, but then spends another fifteen minutes telling me how I missed the mark. Don’t get me wrong; I can certainly take criticism, and believe me, I get more than my fair share. I don’t claim to be infallible, and the messages I write are not always inclusive, because space only allows me to cover so many aspects of any particular topic.
Most recently, my critic accused me of “never” telling people the vital solution to America’s problems. I was told that I’m correct about identifying and calling out the critical issues our society suffers from, but that I “never” offer the solution. This is a common correspondence I receive from this person. They correct me weekly — no matter what I’m writing or talking about — and even when I do address the specific solutions this person is so insistent about, I never seem to do it to their satisfaction.
So, this past week, I wrote back that I do, in fact, address exactly their concerns, frequently. I have, in fact, written and spoken extensively about the particular areas of Scripture they feel are most vitally important. And I agree with them. What they brought up is the solution we’re all searching for. But I’ve covered these things so often, I feel I’ve done it “‘til I’m blue in the face,” yet, somehow, they’ve missed all those articles. Maybe because they never bother to visit our website: WisconsinChristianNews.com, subscribe to our newspaper or get to know what our mission here is all about. They only read other websites — the ones that republish my articles, but some of which only publish the ones dealing with secular matters, and not spiritual ones.
But again, this person is correct about the solution. And although I’ve done it so often, I feel I’ve written and spoken on these things “‘til I’m blue in the face,” I’m going to do it again here, because many of you have also, somehow, missed the importance of the solution to all our problems. I know many have missed it, based on the responses I receive after radio broadcasts. I get a lot more response from people requesting transcripts or audio CDs to read or listen to again — or share with others — when I discuss things related to politics, government, Globalism, or frightening things now manifesting on the earth. But when I speak on spiritual matters, it seems like no one’s listening.
Perhaps because my readers and listeners believe they already know all this. But it’s one thing to have head knowledge and another thing to actually do something about it. Case in point: I’ve heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 recited so many times, by well-meaning Christians, who understand this is the answer we’re so desperately seeking as a nation — but I don’t think I’ve ever heard about anyone actually trying to implement what this verse calls us to do. Let’s read it:
“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.” The trouble is, most professing Christians don’t think this applies to them. But it specifically applies to them! Our Heavenly Father is specifically saying, “If My people…” That means us — those who claim the name of Christ.
I believe if we call ourselves “Christians,” we’d better be sure we’re not taking that sacred Name in vain. What does this verse call God’s people to do? 1) Humble themselves. That’s a hard pill to swallow for so many church-goers. After all, they’re doing their duty. They attend church every week — some are there every time the doors are open. They’re involved, active in their local church. They give their money to the church, and believe they have it all together.
They’re saved by grace. But are they humble? Are they teachable? Or do they think they already know all there is to know about Our Creator and His commands? Do they survive on assumed “grace,” telling themselves that “no one is perfect and God will certainly forgive all my past and future sins; and my continued hidden sins are under the grace of the blood of the Lamb?”
Try to dig deeper into the Word of God, or push to take Scripture literally, and urge faithful church-goers to even make an attempt to follow the commands of God, and you’ll quickly find out how UNhumble they really are.
2) Do we pray and seek God’s face? And by that I mean, do we have an insatiable desire to have a close relationship with our Father, through His Son Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit? Or when we pray, do we just take our “wish list” to “Daddy,” offer up quick, vain, meaningless prayers for ourselves and others — “telling” God what we want, rather than conversing with Him, drawing near to Him…like a child?
I frustrate people when I’m asked to lead corporate prayer, because I don’t pray like most of the “professional Christians” do when they’re on stage. If you ask me to lead group prayer, it’s not going to be what you’re used to. Because most people are used to short, concise, quick “prayers” that sound spiritual but have no depth, and leave no room for any real, personal impact. When I pray, I talk to God, then I listen for His response. Then I reply and listen some more. I don’t make a speech. It’s a conversation, and I believe that’s how prayer should be. That’s what “seeking His face” means.
3). Turn from our wicked ways. Most professing Christians don’t believe they have any wicked ways to turn from. They have an attitude of superiority over the fallen, lost sinners they encounter on the streets every day. This gets back to the aspect of humility. We all need to humble ourselves every day before Almighty God, grateful for what He’s done for us. But we’ll never get there if we never get honest with ourselves, pray and truly seek His face.
Most believe they’re basically “good” people. “Good” Christians. Romans 3:10-12, “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:3, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Rather than being haughty and smug about our position in Christ, we need to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, not just acknowledging we’re not “perfect,” but also turning from our wicked ways. And our prayer should be that of Psalm 139: 23 & 24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Our goal should be Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Our world today has millions of man-made laws. We struggle under a burden of rules and regulations, judicial decrees, unjust mandates, federal, state and county laws and local ordinances. Millions of them.
But God gave us just ten. Ten simple commands to follow. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we even attempted to follow those Ten Commandments? And here’s a challenge for you: if you’re one of those “faithful” church-goers, can you even tell me what those simple Ten Commandments are, without having to look them up? (You’ll find them in Exodus 20). 1) Have no other gods before Yahweh, the one and only true God. 2) Don’t make idols and worship them. 3) Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. 4) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. 5) Honor your father and mother. 6) Don’t commit murder. 7) Don’t commit adultery. 8) Don’t steal. 9) Don’t gossip, lie about others or bear false witness. And 10) Don’t covet. In other words, don’t jealously desire what someone else has.
Now, I’ve written and spoken for years about the importance of God’s Ten Commandments until I’ve become “blue in the face.” Ten seemingly simple commandments, yet we’ve all broken all ten of them, if not in deed, at least in our hearts, which is equally damning. The fact that most Christians can’t even name all ten in a row shows how casually we regard our so-called “Christian faith.” We should be ashamed, and this should lead to us humbling ourselves, praying and truly seeking God’s face, turning from our wicked ways.
Is that what’s happening? Of course not. We smugly recite 2 Chronicles 7;14, but have no intention of ever stirring the Body of Christ to come up with an action plan which would revive a dying, dead and outright apostate so-called “Church.” Most don’t even have any real intention of doing any of this in their own individual lives.
Yes, we are saved by grace, by the blood of the Lamb, through humble repentance and faith. But that repentance isn’t a one-time “sinner’s prayer.” That confession is only the beginning of a lifetime of sanctification. We’re to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, yet most of us, even Christians, remain complacent, apathetic and conformed to this world.
When Moses was old, and knew his days on this earth were drawing to a close, he penned a vital warning to his people, which we find in the book of Deuteronomy. I’ve dissected this area of Scripture more times than I can count. I’ve written about it in depth. I’ve done radio commentaries on it that took multiple broadcasts to get through.
I would encourage you all to read that book, and especially chapter 28, and really do your best to soak it all in. Because there’s good news and bad news, and herein lies the answer to all of our nation’s problems. Deuteronomy 28 were some of Moses’ last words of instruction and warning to his nation, but they apply to all nations of the earth, and especially to the United States and Western countries today.
Verse 1, “if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” Then comes an extensive list of blessings any nation can and will receive. But these amazing blessings are conditional. To receive them, a nation must observe and do all God’s commandments. Yes, even after we walk the aisle and recite the “sinner’s prayer.”
But then comes the bad news. If a nation refuses to honor, obey and follow those commands of God, horrific curses will fall upon those people. As I look around America today, it’s easy to see which path we’ve chosen, because those curses are abundant everywhere you turn. We did enjoy the blessings at one time in this nation. Now, having abandoned God and His commands, we’re reaping the curses.
Most likely, you won’t hear about this in church. Most likely, your pastor won’t talk like I’m talking to you now. Some problems have very simple solutions, but our hardened hearts have become so selfish and conceited, we’re unwilling to give our Creator even a scrap of reverence, awe and obedience. You want to see our nation blessed? You know what to do. But I’m not holding my breath. I’m already “blue in the face.”
Editorial comment by Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
Love thy neighbor is a commandment, not a suggestion.
Judging the Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will [a]know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [c]know them by their fruits.,, Mathew 7:15 – 20…NASB
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