Daily Devotional for Wednesday April 8, 2009
Perversion comes to the Heartland
(Genesis 2:24)
Perversion comes to the heartland. In a few weeks, men will start marrying men, women will start marrying women..in IOWA! Yes, you heard me, IOWA. How much more American can you get than Iowa? God, family, apple pie, corn fields, and now, GAY MARRAIGE! Iowa will become the latest state to make a mockery of God's Holy Institution of Marriage. If two people of the same sex choose to live together and engage in homosexual relations in complete rebellion to God's Word, that is their choice. But people who know Christ as their Savior cannot allow society to change God's definition of marriage to legalize this sin people have chosen to live in.
It is time for two things to happen. First, the CHURCH has been asleep for too long. Pastors MUST lead their congregations in fighting those who want to change God's Word. It is time for all the various pro family organizations, Christian legal organizations, to come together as ONE UNIFIED VOICE and put an end to these attempts to change God's definition of marriage. The homosexual community represents less than 1% of society, yet they press forward their agenda because they have clearly defined goals and are UNITED.
Of course, when you have Rick Warren, the guy who promotes himself as the "pastor to the nation" because he got thousands of lazy pastors to preach from his book instead of the Bible for a few months, going on national TV and bragging he is not anti-gay marraige, it only weakens those true men of God who will not compromise the Truth of the Bible in order to build their own kingdom like Warren has. The pastor of Saddleback Church said on "Larry King Live" that he is "oblivious" concerning gay marriage and never compared gays to pedophiles. He went on to say that he is not an "anti-gay marriage activist."
Second, it is time to hold our public officials and those in the media accountable on these issues. I tried to warn you that President Obama would be the most gay-friendly President in history, helping to advance the radical homosexual agenda in this nation. This is just the beginning of the onslaught we will be seeing from the homosexual lobby in this nation as they push for gay marriage, gay adoption, hate speech legislation to prohibit anyone from speaking out against their perverted choice, and more special rights for people who choose this rebellious lifestyle. There can be NO COMPROMISE on this issue and our elected officials need to be held accountable.
Likewise, people in the media that make their millions from courting "Christians," people like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity, who have national influence, cannot be allowed a "politically-correct pass" on this issue. These people love to let us know they are "Christians" so we listen to them and buy their books allowing them to command multi-million dollar salaries. Well, Christianity has a price and they either support God' s institution of marriage or they don't. There is NO COMPROMISE!
Marriage is God's idea, not man's. God's definition of marriage is one man, one woman, one lifetime. Let me encourage those of you who have not been married and are still waiting on God's perfect timing for your lifetime mate. This is the plan God has for a man and woman as set forth in the Bible. It is not even debatable to talk about any other kind of relationship because God clearly lays out HIS plan in the Word, and anything else is a perversion of that plan! Based on the divorce rate and percentage of people who engage in premarital sex, one man, one woman, one lifetime may seem unrealistic in today's society.
However, the perversion of God's plan for marriage is evident throughout history and detailed in the Bible from the Old through the New Testaments. That perversion DOES NOT make God's plan any less true. As a matter of fact, it is only in following God's plan that it really works. One man, one woman, one lifetime, means no divorce. The family and our society has been greatly damaged by the ever-increasing divorce rate from the mid-'60s through today. One man, one woman, one lifetime, means you don't engage in premarital sex. For those moments of pleasure, the pain and consequences are evident in broken and scarred lives. One man, one woman, one lifetime, works because this is how God designed it, with the best interest of His children in mind.
Let me take a second to address those who have not been able to follow God's plan. Many who read this Devotional have already been through divorce in their life. Many have already had multiple sexual partners. In many cases, all of this happened before you came to know Christ as your personal Savior. Does this mean you should give up? No! What this does mean though is that from this point forward, you should try to follow God's plan. It is the only way you will be in His will and able to know the fullness of His blessings in your life.
What you have done in your past is behind you. You can't change that. You need to take some time to repent and ask God's forgiveness, to heal, and then move forward in your life. God said in His Word that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. That is His promise. Seek His forgiveness and move forward in your life following God.
Many reading this today will dismiss these words as nice but not realistic.That is straight from the pits of hell itself. It is VERY realistic. The world has perverted God's plan for marriage too long, and it is time to tell people the truth. It works God's way, it will never work any other way. This Devotional today is a warning to those yet unmarried, those yet who can still follow God's plan for marriage in their life. If you don't believe God, talk to someone who has been through a divorce. Talk to those who have had multiple intimate relationships. Let them tell you firsthand the pain, heartache and consequences. Then talk to those who have listened faithfully to God and followed His plan of one man, one woman, one lifetime.
This devotional is also meant to encourage those who have failed to now follow God's plan in their life. It is not too late. God loves you, and while you always have to deal with the consequences of your past actions, you can do it God's way from here on out. The Bible talks about having a life of abundance. My friend, that life is only possible when you follow God 's plan in all areas of your life, including His plan for marriage.
I love you and care about you deeply. This nation is beginning to feel God's wrath and judgment due to our sins and wickedness. Perverting God's plan for marriage by having people of the same sex marry each other is pure rebellion against God and His Word. It is madness to the nth degree! While the homosexual community is unified, sadly, the Body of Christ is not. We have the numbers, we have the ability to stop this perversion, but it will never happen unless we come together as one.
Those with the platform to do it don't have the guts and are more worried about their kingdom instead of God's Kingdom. That is why Liveprayer is making the moves we are through the Jonah Project to call together the last days remnant who want to see this nation turn back to God and Biblical values. Our time is very short, the enemy is aggressively on the move. It is time we take our stand for Christ just as boldly and just as aggressively!!!
I will be praying today that these words will find a fertile resting place in your heart. It should be a challenge to you. When you pray, ask God for the wisdom and strength to live according to His plan for your life. God will honor your commitment to Him. Let your life be a living testimony to this lost and sin-filled world that there is a better way. The greatest testimony you have is not the things you say, but how you live. Let those around you notice how different your life is, how better your life is, because you have chosen to follow God and God's plan for marriage!
***As we are in the first week of March, let me ask you to please pray about making that gift to Liveprayer this month. I know many are facing difficult times, but I also know God has protected and blessed most through this economic storm. What better way to show your gratitude than by using some of those resources to bring His hope to so many lost and hurting souls.
Less than 1/4 of 1% ever give to Liveprayer. Many have been blessed by Liveprayer for many years and have never supported God's work here. It has been the faithfulness of many friends these past 115 months that has allowed us to be a blessing to millions. Now you can be a blessing to someone who needs Christ by sending the most generous gift you can today. The Bible teaches to give as you are able. For some that may be a gift of $20 or $50. For others it may be a gift of $100 or $200. Still others can give $500, $1,000, or even more. It is not the amount God sees, but your heart. Simply be obedient and give as the Holy Spirit guides you to give.
TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our secure server at: www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" link, you can give using your PayPal account using my email address: bkeller@liveprayer.com, or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.
Thank you for standing with me. Now is the moment, this is the time. It is a new year. We must forge ahead to lead this nation back to God and to Biblical values, and bring His hope to the lost. May you be richly blessed as you serve and follow Him. Together, God can use our lives to impact millions of souls in these last days for all eternity!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller