We have Reached the Tipping Point

Scripture: For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.” Isaiah 29:11-12

Observation: After pronouncing both a threat against Jerusalem (a future war and siege) and salvation (the Lord's defeat of that enemy) - both events that soon happened under King Hezekiah - Isaiah then writes that through all of this the people just don't understand. Part of the prophesy itself is that they have ignored and silenced their prophets.

However, Isaiah then clarifies this lack of understanding of prophesy in this passage of prose. It isn't just that the people don't comprehend, or have shut down the words of their prophets, but rather that they willfully ignore the attempts of the Lord to even communicate with them. As a metaphor ... when handed a scroll with clear warnings and instructions, some people will say they can't read (when just having someone who can read this aloud would be easy); some people will say the scroll is sealed (when opening the scroll is the easiest thing to do). They won't even make a tiny bit of effort to comprehend the great truths and messages and warnings and blessings of God.

Application: I have been saying for years - privately with friends and family, and publicly in this blog - that our nation is coming apart ... that we as a people are failing to recognize that we are in the midst of a spiritual war between good and evil ... that a tipping point is coming when Christians will be openly attacked and killed for their faith, and we will know who is evil not by who does the killing, but by who cheers it on and/or justifies it.

There have been signs this has happened with the killing of some lesser-known individuals over the last few months, but with the murder of Charlie Kirk, we now know the tipping point is here.

Thankfully, I have seen many Christians responding to his by declaring the truth ... that this is evidence of the spiritual war that is already raging in the U.S. We are not in a political divide, we are in a war between good and evil, where satan is influencing many into a pattern of thinking and behavior in a war against the Lord, against the plans and purposes and instructions of the Lord, and against the Lord's beloved creation - mankind - and by extension our reconciliation to the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ.

As Christians, our method of "fighting back" needs to be love, not violence. Our weapon needs to be the gospel message of salvation, not shouted rhetoric and anger. Our outward posture needs to be peaceful, not fearful. HOWEVER ... we must know we are in a war, and the enemy has, as his goal, our spiritual death. The enemy - satan, and originator of all lies - has spiritually killed many among us who have declared themselves opposed to God, rejected Jesus, and now act as part of satan's army in influencing others in order to bring them to spiritual death. However, if satan cannot kill us spiritually because we remain strong in Christ, he will seek to kill us emotionally, professionally, relationally, and mentally. What might these types of 'killing' look like?

Emotionally = Creating environments and situations that cause us to fear for the safety of ourselves and our families, to the point that we withdraw and remain silent.

Professionally = Implementing policies and practices whereby acting upon our faith can cost us our jobs or opportunities to advance in our earthly vocation.

Relationally = Turning friends and others us into alignment with his evil schemes so that discussions about the truth create division, strife, and separation.

Mentally = Leveraging platforms like social media to alter our minds, ultimately distracting and undermining our ability to keep our eyes and focus on the truth.

And those he cannot kill in these manners, he will kill physically to remove them from the fight here on earth.

We - mankind in general and the U.S. specifically - have been handed the scroll. It very clearly states that the evil enemy is attacking, turning millions and millions of people into his minions who violate the Lord's precepts, willingly forfeit their God-created identity, declare their loyalty to concepts derived from lies and hate, and then fight for those same lies. Those who accept and read the scroll will have to decide what to do, and prepare to be attacked emotionally, professionally, relationally, mentally, and physically.

My biggest concern is for all the Christians - all the churches - who are saying that they can't read the scroll.

Prayer: Lord, the situation is clear. I have two prayers today. The first is to help me overcome the attacks against myself. I am failing in this regard. I need your strength, and I need to redouble my strength and awareness of the source and cause of these attacks and live into my calling in this spiritual war. Second, please awaken the churches who have declared they can't or won't read the scroll. Please give them a new heart and a renewing of their faith and belief in your word. Amen.