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Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank  for “Kingdom Pastor”  @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/2023/04/24/shipwrecks-and-train-wrecks/

SHIPWRECKS AND TRAIN WRECKS!

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Pastor Randy

O Lord, you are righteous,
    and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
    and completely trustworthy.
I am overwhelmed with indignation,
    for my enemies have disregarded your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
    that is why I love them so much.

Psalm 119, verses 137 thru 140;   from the New Living Translation (NLT)

Ships sometimes wreck. Trains sometimes wreck. In spite of all the innovations, regulations, and safety requirements, ships and trains still wreck. And it’s never a good thing, as we’ve been reminded over the past several weeks with multiple train wrecks. And in nearly every event, the cause can be linked to human error, defective material or equipment, improper maintenance, or unforeseen circumstances. What does all this have to do with the Kingdom Life and the shipwreck-and-train-wreck-all-rolled-into-one-culture in which we currently reside? Glad you asked!

Boundaries are important! Ships don’t dare interact with icebergs. Trains and train tracks must be inspected and maintained on a frequent basis. Rules must be followed; otherwise it’s a disaster about to happen. Shipwrecks and train wrecks are never a good thing. Ships and trains have their “boundaries”. They are called regulations. Operators and crews are never free to “adjust” those regulations. They operate within those regulations; and if they don’t, they face the consequences of willfully violating those regulations. Sometimes they end up in prison.

And the same is happening when it comes to the moral boundaries of life. There are those who want to throw out the tried and proven true regulations of life–otherwise known as The Bible. Some want to establish new boundaries because the old-but-proven regulations (that’s The Bible) are getting in the way of what they want. Rather than adjusting the course of their life, they think that if they simply move the boundary markers, then instantly what they want is perfectly OK!

No! It’s not OK! God has placed boundaries for our lives, not to deny us joy and happiness–but to keep us from heartache and misery. Same-gender sex and gender dysphoria are only 2 examples of living outside the boundaries of The Bible. The drug addict; the porn addict, the abuser; the greedy; and the list goes on and on and on. Too many are teaching that we, as human beings (flawed human beings) are capable of coming up with our own morality and acceptable conduct. But the truth is we aren’t capable of such life-altering decisions. That’s why God has made sure we have The Bible.

Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that you own 200 acres of land. Surveyors came out and established those property lines–i.e.–boundary lines. But your neighbor sees you have a nice 20 acre lake on your property. So he decides he wants that lake even though it is on the other side of that boundary line. So he goes to the courthouse and changes those property/boundary lines. Now the lake is on HIS property. How would that make you “feel”? Would that be fair and right?

You would probably argue (and rightly so) that your neighbor isn’t free to change the property/boundary lines just because he wanted something on the other side of the property/boundary line–something that wasn’t his to begin with. Today’s culture has done the very thing that God warned Israel NOT to do–they have trusted their reasoning rather than God.

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
    says the Lord.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
    You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
    thus piling up your sins.
For without consulting me,
    you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.
    You have tried to hide in his shade.”

Isaiah chapter 30, verses 1 and 2 (NLT)

Making an alliance with Egypt came from their human reasoning. It would be better to trust in Egypt at that time. Egypt would help protect them, and they would be happy. This made “sense” to them. I’ll let you read for yourself how that worked out for them. Today’s Egypt is allowing each person to choose their own form of acceptable morality. It’s at the core of progressive theology. And today’s Pharaoh is still the one back then–Satan!

Folks, we human beings do not have the wherewithal to establish boundaries for morality which creates our behavior. But God does–and His boundary lines are clearly drawn in The Bible. And again I say: God has placed boundaries for our lives, not to deny us joy and happiness–but to keep us from heartache and misery. Stepping outside those boundaries? Well, it’s a shipwreck and train wreck all-rolled-into-one about to happen. Getting what you want, won’t give you what you need! And getting the church to approve, bless, and sanctify what you want? It’s still sin. Plain old-fashioned sin! Disagreeing with me doesn’t make it right. It just means you’re still wrong.

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P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/