What's the Problem Anyway?

Minnesota has hit the BIG times! From Real America's Voice, News Max, CNN ABC, CBS,  NBC, Fox News and many more;  the events of  our state have been making headlines for quite a few years now.  And let’s just add the social media outlets to that list, and even our “fun” time has turned bad.  And the BIG times? It's not a very encouraging report. What is happening? Where is all of this coming from? 

It makes me wonder if we are living in the times that the Prophet Isaiah spoke about in his book? 

Isaiah, chapter 5 lays out a scene. Please imagine with me a beautiful vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. The land was plowed, stones clear away, and choice vines were planted. A watchtower was built in the middle of the vineyard, a beautifully carved wine press was created in the nearby rocks.

The master of the vineyard awaited the harvest of sweet grapes.

But when the fruit came, it was bitter and sour.

The master, having expected sweet grapes-not wild ones, decided to tear down its fences and he allowed the vineyard to be destroyed.

“I will break down the walls and let the animals trample it.

I will make it a wild place.

I will not prune the vines or hoe the ground. I will let it be overgrown with briers and thorns.

I will command the clouds to drop no more rain on it.

This is the story of the LORD”s people. They are the vineyard of the LORD Almighty. Israel and Judah are His pleasant garden. He expected them to yield a crop of justice, but instead He found bloodshed. He expected to find righteousness, but instead He heard cries of oppression.” Isaiah 5:5-7

Minnesota is a beautiful state. From border to border, we have been blessed with rolling hills, rich, fertile farmland, and more lakes than one can imagine in such a small land. We have an abundance of forests, wildlife, endless starry nights, crisp autumn air, refreshing spring showers, warm sunny summer days, and the beautiful snow falls of winter. We are indeed a blessed state. Much like the vineyard in Isaiah’s writings.

This message is for God’s Church, the Ekklesia. We see this description of the church in Scriptures. Ekklesia means a “called-out assembly.”

I’m disturbed by the events that are making headlines in our state. Will the Master remove the borders, and allow the wild animals to wreak havoc on our state? Will He remove His protection and allow our downfall? 

This isn’t a left versus right issue. It’s not a Democrat vs Republican issue. It’s the old good versus evil issue. It's a heart issue.

When we spew hatred against a candidate. Evil wins.

When we stop communicating with one another because we can’t agree. Evil wins.

When we don’t stand for Biblical truth. Evil wins.

When we confuse the lines of right and wrong. Evil wins.

When we condemn our brother. Evil wins.

When we walk in fear. Evil wins.

When we live in confusion. Evil wins.

When we hate. Evil wins.

Church, is God calling us to a higher place? Do we need to look deep into our own hearts? Remember we are strangers in a foreign land. We are called to be holy. We are to be ambassadors for Christ in a world filled with pain.

My friends, this is a heart issue. I know because I’ve had to look at my own heart. It’s too easy to get caught up in the events of the world, so I need to put aside my frustrations, the anger I feel when I sense an attack, the fear of losing this great state of ours.

How can I reflect His love if my heart is bitter? How can I produce a good fruit that is pleasing to the Lord?

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus beckons us to come. In His presence I find peace. When I open His Word, I find hope. When I listen to His voice, I find encouragement. When He convicts me, I ask Him to change my heart. Jesus-He's the answer to everything that we need.

Church, will you join me? If we want to help our state, country, world, it starts with us. We need to seek the face of God. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to guide us. And dwell in the presence of Jesus. If we surrender to Him, He will show us how to love. He will give us our next step. I'm counting on it. I'm counting on Him.

Dear Jesus, we confess that we don’t look to you as much as we do the other sources of information that vie for our attention. May this be the day that we turn our hearts towards you, seek your face and find true rest for our souls. Thank you that you are faithful and you never give up on us. May we be found faithful in your sight. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen