Stand Against Tyranny ~ Stand Up For Jesus

The last lines of Bob Dylan’s song “Times they are a changin’ ” read:

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’

He wrote these words in 1964, but they seem to point to us today. Yes these times are a changin’, but as Christians we can’t let this take our focus off the real life we are looking at….a life with and for Jesus Christ.

We must stand above the fray and show our strength is with Christ. We can’t be intimidated by the “social order” that is being dictated to the nation in the name of “safety” and “health.”  The pandemic was here so we could all rally to Christ as many have, causing the start of a revival and possible a third “Great Awakening.” There is strength in numbers and our numbers are growing.

But the biggest danger we face not just as Christians, but as citizens of the United States of America, is the total breakdown of local authorities. Riots and destruction are happening while we stand by helpless to stop it. Many are calling for a “New World Order” such as one that is described in this biblical prophecy:

 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” ~ Daniel 7:23

This is the danger we all face. Our only hope is to turn to the Lord God Almighty through His Son Jesus Christ. It is said that to truly know oneself it is necessary to live in a relationship with others. As we see our life reflected in the life and response of others, we discover more about ourselves. 

 ^“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”~ Hebrews 4:12

Just think about what’s going on around us. How can you relate to what you see and hear? Other people are like a mirror in which we see reflected our true selves. People are cloudy mirrors at best. It is only by seeing ourselves face to face in a perfect relationship that we discern who we truly are. When we see our imperfections reflected in perfection, we get an idea of what we want to become. Do you want to become like these folks who are caving into the rioters and domestic terrorists or do you want to be independent and stand up against them and stand up for Jesus!

Another verse from Bob Dylan’s song “Times they are a changin’ ” read:

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin’
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’ 

 ^” But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”  ~ James 1:22-25 

Instead of cowering to the unholy powers at work in our nation and indeed in the world, stand tall, face them, and defy them! You have the strength to do this  because you have Jesus on your side.

^“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” ~ 1 John 3:2

Until the day we see Jesus face to face, looking into the written Word is where we will find a true picture of who we are and who God created us to be. Renew your mind through meditating in God’s Word. You will find good, acceptable, and perfect will for your life.

^“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” ~ Romans 12:2