“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:47
We are entering a new kind of world, a new era. It is something very unfamiliar to most of us. World forces are at work which are changing everything we have known as ‘normal’. There is an idea being implemented known as the ‘Great Global Reset’. We are being told that nothing will ever be the same again. We are being told that “you must submit”! (Quote by Klaus Martin Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum)
Those Globalists and Socialists in favor say this Great Reset will be our world’s salvation through the elimination of wars, poverty, disease, and social injustice. It is the same decades old mantra of Socialist’s dream of Utopia.
Those who do not agree with the precepts of Socialism say we need a different solution. We all agree, however, that we need someone or something to make our world a better and a safer place.
I suspect that many people will roll their eyes, derisively, when I say that the answers to all of these world problems – and, the problems you and I face – is Jesus and His Word.
Periods of change such as ‘The Renaissance’, ‘The Enlightenment Age’ or ‘The Industrial Revolution’, all began with an idea which thoroughly transformed the world.
An idea expressed passionately, even fervently, and zealously pursued by committed and capable people, can bring change. Often there is a cost of radical change and the expense is measured in lives and families and fortunes.
An idea, repeated often enough and argued affirmatively and often enough, which is born in a crucible of fiery trials, often gives way to amazing global change, whether for good or evil. Then, once the hearts and minds of people are either convinced or enslaved, how they view and interact within the world can be seen in some very unexpected ways.
The American Revolution, for example, was an idea born of men and women who mutually pledged their lives, fortunes and their sacred honor to one another. Once this idea was manifest, the destiny of the world was a set and the world has been a different and a better place for over 250 years. That era, now seems, is drawing to a close.
The Advent of Jesus Christ, “The Greatest Idea” was born of God, as a child in a manger in the obscure town of Bethlehem in the region of Judea. Emerging from this obscurity was “The Greatest Idea” which became known as Jesus Christ, the ‘Son of God’ and the Son of Man.
(I am aware that since God is omniscient, He actually doesn’t have ideas as we consider them. When God has a thought, oddly enough, it has no beginning as it has always been in existence waiting for its time to be manifest – and then it is eternal.)
The appearance of The Greatest ‘Idea’, that is Jesus, and the expression of this “God-man”, changed not only how people thought about the world, but radically changed how they interacted. It has been said that Jesus and His disciples had ‘turned the world upside down’, which was an apt description since He expressed and demonstrated ideas which were counter intuitive to the human experience up to that point in time. For examples:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21-22
Also, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-43
And again, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Matthew 5:44
Jesus influenced the thoughts and behaviors of the known world by His Word and His deeds of peace among brethren and love for all humankind. His influence should rightly be called “The Greatest Idea”, as it brought change on a global scßale in ethics, morals, social constructs, national economies, educational systems, and all the disciplines of the age.
But, everything temporal is subject to change. And, as time has passed, the world has continued to change in both its thought and behavior – and not always for the good of humankind.
Remarkably, it would seem, we are have not been ‘evolving’ as some like to say, but we are simply repeating history. It would seem we are specifically revisiting a bygone era, but with new advanced technologies being applied to some not-so-new ideas.
Although the world is changing, Jesus Christ, “THE GREATEST IDEA”, has not changed. Christ and His teachings are unchanging. His methods and His purpose are immutable. And, He has not forgotten the world He created by His Word, although the world is forgetting Him.
Change is rarely easy and opposing ideas almost always bring some sort of conflict. And, there has always been conflict in the hearts and minds of people when it comes to the idea of good versus evil. And this conflict intensifies as people forget God.
The standard of what is good and what is evil has been long established, although those who deny God and practice the ‘dark arts of the flesh’, would like to argue the point. Some would argue there are degrees or shades of evil. They say that some evil is not necessarily bad or harmful and therefore isn’t really evil, but are just examples of human error or mistakes. They go on to say that evil is just a concept and should be defined by each person by their own standard.
But, with Jesus, came “The Greatest Idea”. He set The Standard of Good – and that anything less than HIs Standard is evil.
It is The Mind of Christ which holds the Standard of Good. It is the Mind of Christ which transforms the mind of man and woman and how they think – for Good. It is the Mind of Christ literally living within us that overcomes the powers of the he rulers, and world forces of darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the ‘heavenly places – that is in the unseen realm from whence comes all things which are seen.
There is no doubt that times are changing and the days are growing spiritually darker. Chaos, division and uncertainty reign. It is time, once again, to call on The Greatest Idea for our salvation. It is time to make the Mind of Christ our own mind and set things right.
How can I know this will set things right? How can you know this? Look at the evidence. Look at the effects. Look at the history. Make up your own mind. Don’t be swayed by doubters ‘second guessers’. Then, ‘by faith’, decide for yourself. Decide to believe “The Greatest Idea”. Believe Jesus and go after Him. Embrace Him, embrace His Greatest Idea. Follow Him and you will live! (“The mind set on the Spirit is Life and Peace”. Romans 8:6)
Finally, you must know that “The Greatest Idea” is not just an idea. “The Greatest Idea”, took on the form of a man and brought the world The Greatest Truth ever known. And He, Jesus, proved The Greatest Truth by going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, forgiving sin, healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. And, the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
And for that reason, those who practice religion and the ‘dark arts of the flesh’, executed Him in an attempt to silence Him and to keep the Greatest Truth hidden. He was crucified on a Roman criminal’s cross. He was executed for no other reason than Who He is and for What He represented and for bringing the world Hope through the Greatest Truth, The Gospel of Christ.
In an ultimate act of God’s power and in defiance of the powers of and world forces of darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the ‘heavenly places’ , Jesus rose from the dead, walked the earth and as an exclamation, ascended into the Heavens in plain view of men. He is now seated at the Right Hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf. He has also announced that He will return again, this time in the skies, to gather His Elect, and to judge the world for its evil and rebellion.
There is new global shift occurring. Everything is changing, everywhere. And, like every other substantial shift or ‘new era’ in world history, this too, began with an idea. This idea, as it turns out, is not a new idea, but an old idea, one which has been lurking in shadows of the minds of certain people for centuries. In the book of Genesis, we see Satan spreading his lies and planting his ideas of destruction in the minds of God’s children. Its reformulation has been at work for centuries. A foreshadowing of this ancient idea of evil can be found in the writings of the Bible. It is known as the Tower of Babel. And that sinister tower is being rebuilt using twenty first century technologies. And the final conflict has begun.
The one who practices sin and evil is the of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8). This is the purpose for all who call themselves the Children of God.
Those of us who have made The Greatest Truth our own and who follow Jesus as the Christ, have a role to play. God has told us, through His Son, that we will continue His Works, and we will do even greater works because He has given us the authority to complete His works, and He is now seated at the Right Hand of Power of The Father interceding for us.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
THE GREATEST TRUTH: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the [b]only begotten Son of God.
19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:16-21
Whitestone Fellowship 