God's Stimulus Plan!

Saturday, January 24, 2009
Dear Fellow Travelers,
This morning, I read Psalm 96 and was blown away, especially by the last three verses: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming; for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness” (Psalm 96:11-13; emphasis mine). BE GLAD, REJOICE, ROAR, EXULT, SING FOR JOY because He is coming! Wow!
You know, it really concerns me that so many church-goers sincerely believe the false teaching that “God helps those who help themselves.” What they are really saying is this: If you do not do your part, then do not expect any help from God! Now, I can understand this mindset, when it comes to welfare; but for the life of me, I cannot understand it, when it comes to the gospel.
As you know, our welfare system is broken, and it is because the US congress has promoted a system that says, “The less you do, the more help we will give to you.” Now, I am very much in favor of helping those, who really need help; however, I have long-since been fed up with giving “entitlements” to those who have no intentions of ever doing anything. In my opinion, they are “entitled” to nothing—absolutely nothing. I might add: this nation is overpopulated with those who fit into this category. Again, in my opinion, every welfare office should have a placard hanging over the door that reads: “If You Aren’t Willing to Work, Then Do Not Waste Your Time by Crossing This Threshold!” And while I am on this subject, there is a way—a very good way—to eliminate much of the cost of welfare: Require that welfare recipients be alcohol and drug free (random blood tests will save billions!). Oh, I forgot: this would violate their “rights”!
Where am I going with this? Unless there is a major turn, and I do mean major turn, in the direction our government is heading, we will soon be a socialistic nation. Unless, something drastic happens—soon—the US government will control every aspect of our lives. At the present moment, this might not seem important, but it is very, very important! Ask those who have had to live under such dire circumstances, and you will find that, well, just ask.
What about those who truly cannot help themselves? Then by all means, let us do whatever is necessary to provide for them, and let us do so with love and compassion. What an incredible privilege that would be, and what a difference it would make in the US Treasury coffers—positive difference! But for those who simply want to be parasites, leeches, and vermin, who spend all day, every day, trying to figure out how to get something for nothing, well, I will keep that to myself!
Interestingly, however, when it comes to the gospel, this is the tack God took: If you think you can save yourself, then plan to do so without My help; however, if you plan to trust Me to save you, then trust Me to do everything. If you think you can help Me save you, then plan to do so without My help; however, if you plan to trust Me to save you, then trust Me to do everything. Interestingly, God does NOT make any attempt to help those who at-tempt to help save themselves; instead, He leaves them completely alone (see Adam & Eve!) to fend for themselves.
On the other hand, to the helpless and hopeless, to those who are very aware of their desperate need for a Savior, One who does EVERYTHING, this is His Word: “Consider the lilies of the field . . . “.
Just for the record: My hope is NOT in the US Government; not in the new administration; not in the “stimulus plan”; instead, it is in the God of Creation, and in His Son, Jesus Christ—the One who died for me because I could do nothing to help myself! I couldn’t believe, I couldn’t choose, I couldn’t behave, I couldn’t ask, I couldn’t work, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t crawl, I couldn’t follow, I couldn’t do anything—I was dead, and dead folk do nothing! Thankfully, He did not raise the dead; instead, He brought into existence a new creation, one who is alive to Him!
This is God’s stimulus plan and it works for me: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming; for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness”!
Jesus is coming again and He is coming without reference to sin! “. . . so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Oops! Sorry, I was so long-winded!! Well, not real sorry, but somewhat sorry.