Murder, Riots, Depravity, and Hope – A Hymn From the Past

Usually on Sunday I only talk about a beautiful hymn, but today I have a hymn and something else on my mind. As you know, dear ones, if you’ve followed me long enough, once upon a time I practiced the religion of politics. I worshipped at the feet of Talking Heads. It started with the unrest in Egypt, when mass crowds of citizens came together and overthrew the dictator that had taken over their country. I watched in horror, as a military stood ready to defend its citizens against their government if need be. They weren’t fighting their leaders, but they weren’t aiming their guns at their people either. It didn’t take long before that particular leader was removed, and a new one was elected. It was as fascinating to me as it was terrifying, but I couldn’t really understand it.

Romans 8:28

I had done really well in my AP Gov classes, but that wasn’t due to intellect. I had been taught a trick for test taking that I still use anytime I need to. The answer to questions is almost always found in other questions, so if I didn’t know something all I had to do was skip ahead and I’d find the answer waiting in the form of a different question. Ironically, it was a group designed to prepare poor folk like me for college, I wasn’t going to be able to afford it so I needed to have the best grades and test results possible. Anyhow, all thats to say that I left high school completely unaware of how the world worked. But as a new mom, and a young wife, the possibility of a country going through so much change that quickly led me to constant research. Which led me to believe the answer was to be found in our elected officials. It was incredibly naive, but you’d have found me in my early twenties campaigning for Conservo-Libertarian candidates as well as rallying in the Tea Parties. I wore “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” shirts and quoted Ayn Rand. And while I still hold to most of the political views that I did then, I now hold to them for a very different reason.

Ezekiel 36:26

The answer to the problems in the world will never come from governments, rulers, or rioters. The answer came on July 4th, 2015 when God graciously saved this idolatrous wretch. He bore my sin and judgement, He bought me with His blood, and I now only obey Him. I am His servant, His slave, and so I tarry here at His good will waiting to make a pilgrimage home. The answer to murder, to hate, to arson, to theft, to sin, is the Gospel. I can’t fix the world, it’s fallen, but I can share the only good news wicked men will ever hear, there is forgiveness in Christ. There is salvation in Christ. Every sin, whether its murder or theft, will be paid for. Either Christ paid for your sin on the cross and you have been given new life and new desires, or you will pay for your sin. There is no such thing as injustice, but there is sinful men who think they’ve put off justice for the moment. But God holds the account, and there will be a day of Judgement.

2 Corinthians 5:21

We were feeling cooped up, so we took a drive. Fargo is only a couple hours from us, if the hubby drives (3 and a half if I drive, because I’m slow and easily distracted by every…single…rest stop…) so we decided to get out of the house. We were keeping a close watch on Minneapolis because it’s not far from us, but it was early when we pulled into downtown Fargo so we didn’t think there would be any danger in driving around. We were met by a young man standing in the middle of the street with his fist in the air and his face covered. It reminded me of the Occupy Wallstreet folks that camped out downtown where I worked back when politics was my religion. A group of them had stepped out into the road, fists up, trying to block me from driving by them. I saw them in time and sped around them, and took a different route to work from then on out. What I’m trying to say is, with my beautiful daughter sitting in the back seat, it freaked me out. There was a march taking place, and we were in the traffic of people taking part. Most of the signs I saw were appropriate, a few of them were not, but one of them had us turning around and driving home.

1 Samuel 12:24

It said “If you can’t change the system, scare it.” I had seen enough videos of the neighboring city burning to know that a small group of the hundreds of people walking the street would stick around to cause trouble, to “scare” the system. Obviously, we drove home after that, and I’m not feeling cooped up this morning I’m feeling thankful for the safety of my home. But there was something else that chilled me to the bones, as we drove home, we passed a dozen or more armored military vehicles all heading for Fargo. Last night the mayor declared a state of emergency. My husband is a very wise man, he must have seen a glint of the old man in me, that dead and rotting corpse that was plagued with fear of all the things I couldn’t fix, and the things I couldn’t control. He pulled up R. C. Sproul’s last sermon and listened to it with me, then he played me John MacArthurs eulogy for the great theologian. We talked about eternal things for most of the drive home. Why Sproul’s last sermon? Why the eulogy? Because my husband knows I need to be reminded of the only answer to sin. He knows I need to be reminded that we have this great hope. Below is a beautiful hymn from Fanny Crosby, and in case you need to be reminded like I did, I added links to that eulogy and sermon. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Emoji’s

When my life work is ended,
And I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer
When I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.

Oh, the soul thrilling rapture
When I view His blessèd face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
For the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.

Oh, the dear ones in glory,
How they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
They will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.

Through the gates to the city
In a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

Sprouls-Last-Sermon

John-MacArthur’s-Eulogy-for-Sproul

Advertisement