Are Times Really Getting Worse?

by Gale Maiden

Is the glass of water 1/2 full or 1/2 empty?

Our perspective of this glass of water has very differing effects as to what we will do with the glass of water. If I am thirsty and see the glass as 1/2 full, I will probably take a drink. If I see the glass as 1/2 empty I will probably postpone taking a drink and continue in thirst. A real optimist even after taking a drink will see the glass of water as 1/3 full. Ever after taking a third and fourth drink, though still optimistic, eventually the glass will be full of empty!? Now what do I do? I optimistically go fill the glass which is now full of empty again to 1/2 full. This is the view or perspective of the glorious Church of our Living God concerning all things.

In the Kingdom of God things cannot get worse before they get better. We have no knowledge of worse until we have knowledge of better. We do not know darkness until we know light. The writer of Hebrews says that illumination brings affliction. We would not recognize affliction without illumination. The Apostle Paul wrote that he did not know sin until the law (voice of God) brought illumination.

This is why the Apostle James encourages all believers to count it joy when you are surrounded by many tests and temptations. How can one call tests and temptations joyful? It is the illuminating word of God which exposes and challenges our unrighteous desires. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires. The affliction, suffering and souls' anguish will continue within until we by the Spirit of God come into agreement with the desires of God. James says that in our patience, that is our continual choice to agree with God, we will be entire and lacking nothing.

I hold a Progressive World View which says that the Kingdom of God is ever increasing in the earth (Isaiah 9:6, 7). Unless this is true there will not be an end of sin. It is not the absence of the church and the Kingdom of God from the earth which will expose sin but the glorious presence of God in His saints in the earth. Darkness is dispelled only by light. It is the Kingdom of God that exposes and disposes of sin.

It is wrong for a believer to think that things are getting worse. A pragmatic approach to the subject of better or worse says that if something looks bad, it must be bad; if something looks good it must be good. Wrong! All things including those things which appear evil or bad are actually working for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.

Count it all joy because the desires of man which work not the righteousness of God are being exposed. As man repents from his desires and comes into covenant with the Kingdom of God, life from the dead happens. Men who refuse to repent after having been illuminated will suffer the consequences of the wages of sin.

We see this truth concerning better and worse becoming more and more apparent in our nation as people across America are "causing no small stir" as the cry for righteousness and justice comes forth. Politicians and leaders are now being challenged and compelled to make choices because of the illumination of the corruption within the hearts and establishments of those "in control". Men are no longer hiding their light under a basket. The "escapism" mentality which for so long has derailed the train of faith from the path of righteousness is being exposed and disposed of.

The Church of our Living God is ever increasing in glory. We are not to look for a way out but for the way in (Jesus). Our eschatology (knowledge of end times) should be permeated with and declare only victory. The end of the world is the end of sin! The knowledgeable church knows that in Christ (the anointing) we are no longer sinners. With this knowledge the gates of Hades (no knowledge) will not prevail against the church.

Fear God

Without a doubt most believers in this hour would admit that temptation as never before is challenging the engrafted word of God implanted in our hearts. We must embrace the voice of temptation by declaring and activating the voice of God. From the time of Job we have seen the necessity to embrace and see God in his goodness and glory. Job never sinned yet was tempted in the most horrendous ways imaginable. God demonstrated through Job that He could empower a man to remain faithful and overcome suffering and temptation. The thing that Job feared came upon him. Job feared God.

Jesus never sinned while being tempted by all that the world has to offer. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted. We know that God does not tempt anyone with evil. It was the illuminating Spirit of God which exposed the desires of the world which challenged Jesus. As Jesus was led by the Spirit into temptation, we all are being exposed to temptation by the illuminating Spirit of God for the purpose of destroying the desires of man. Jesus, as we all must do when being challenged with temptation, declared, "Not my will but Your (God's) will be done." Jesus knowing that His flesh was weak sought the Spirit of Grace for empowerment to agree with His Father's plan of redemption which included His death on the cross.

We cannot escape the call of God which includes a call to overcome temptation. Except we meet the voice of temptation head on with the voice of God our cup of suffering/temptation will never go away. Note that which Jesus declared in His hour of suffering and temptation in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matt 26:39-42 And He went a little beyond {them,} and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you {men} could not keep watch with Me for one hour? "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this (cup of suffering/temptation) cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done."  (NAS)

Because Jesus drank His cup of suffering/temptation believers are now empowered to also drink of the cup of suffering/temptation. Unless we drink our cup of challenges the same temptations and suffering will continuously keep us in the wilderness of temptation.

God has prepared for all of those who will drink of the cup of suffering and temptation a place in His Kingdom.

Matt 20:20-23 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him.  And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left."  But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able."  He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on {My} left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." (NAS)

Remember that Paul said, "Those who suffer with Me (Jesus), shall reign with Me." II Timothy 2:12

Rejoice because I have good news! That which the Prophet Daniel prophesied concerning the end of transgression and the consummation of the age (age of sin) has been happening since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles recorded in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Daniel's seventieth week ended at the outpouring of the Holy spirit to the Gentiles.

The presence of the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) is with us and has been poured out and is now available to all flesh. All of the "seemingly" bad things which are happening in the earth are because of the presence of Jesus the Christ and not the presence of the evil one. God's Spirit has come!  Were it not for the presence of the Spirit of Christ evil would have no identity. The Book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ totally demonstrates that which is happening in the earth because of the presence of the Spirit of Christ. The Book of Revelation is a love story! "It don't get no better!"

All of creation is being charged with the ever increasing knowledge of the glory of God in the earth.

The Spirit of Truth

How can one truthfully say, "Times are getting worse."? It is impossible by the Spirit of God.  One can only by the Spirit of truth say, "Times are getting better. "

 Would you please pass me the ½ full glass of water?