“OUR NATION” (2)
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
To begin the second writing dealing with our Nation, I would like to define the words so that we may get a clear idea of what we are writing about.
Righteousness : 1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
2. Applied to God, the perfection or holiness of his nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled.
4. Justice; equity between man and man.
5. The cause of our justification.
The Bible says in Proverbs 29:2, “ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
It seems that there are many who are unhappy and it seems that their joy is gone. There is a reason for this. In Revival Service this week, Bro Darrek Copeland preached the first message of the Revival from 1 John chapter 1 concerning our Fellowship with Christ. (You can watch and listen to this message on our facebook page or Youtube Channel) Sin will seperate people from having Fellowship with God and will cause people to lose their Joy and to be miserable. It is a reproach to any people. You don’t have to look long at all to see all the spiritual wickedness in high places, (Ephesians 6:12) that is taking place in our nation. The Good News is there is a remedy if we will follow and obey the Word of God.
Exalt : 1. To raise high; to elevate.
2. To elevate with joy or confidence; as, to be exalted with success or victory.
3. To elevate in estimation and praise; to magnify; to praise;
We are to put the Lord Jesus Christ first in every part of our life, the Bible says in Matthew 22:37, “ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
We do this by prayer, obedience, and submitting ourselves unto Christ. Our Nation as a whole today is doing exactly the opposite. Prayer is not wanted because there is only one way to pray and that is by Jesus Christ, (John 14:6) obedience to the Word of God is replaced by the acceptance of all sin that pleases the flesh. (Gal 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.)
When a sinner repents and is saved, he or she becomes a new creature in Christ. (2Co 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.)
As a Christian, there is a difference in righteousness and wickedness. If a person is truly saved, how could they by a good conscience toward man and God support someone who goes against the teachings of the Word of God. As Christian people, we need to stand strong in our beliefs in Christ and the Word of God because Righteousness does exalt and sin does bring reproach. I will end this writing with the definition of reproach and continue on in part 3. May God continue to be Merciful and Bless You. Bro. Shayne
Reproach: Shame; infamy; disgrace. Object of contempt, scorn or derision. That which is the cause of shame or disgrace.
Just a final thought to this, (Zeph.3:5 “ The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”)
Trying to end but, Thank God he is in the midst of those that gather in his name. He is Faithful.
