The Simpler the Better

I feel like Captain Obvious in saying these are difficult days we're living in. We all know this. But are they the last days of this present age as written in scripture? I think many are asking this question and would like to know the answer.

How can we know whether or not we are the generation "upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Corinthians 10:11)?

We can know by asking the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has given us (Luke 11:9-10).

We won't all come to a common understanding about these days at the same time. This happens over time as the Holy Spirit equips and positions us to fulfill our purpose for being on earth at this point in history. As our unity of understanding grows, our testimony of who Jesus is grows. I believe this is how we will glorify the Father in the days ahead.

As the Holy Spirit lets us know about the day we're living in and what's to come, there is truth that we should already know which He will build upon.

Jesus is the ruler of the kings of earth (Revelation 1:5). He possesses all authority in heaven and on earth and is sovereign over the affairs of mankind. Since He came into the world, His dominion has been increasing and will continue doing so forever (Isaiah 9:6-7).

This truth should be foundational to our abiding in Jesus. If it isn't, we won't fully grasp how the things the Spirit reveals serve to fulfill Jesus' desire for us to overcome the world as He has.

It's in overcoming that we inherit eternity with Him.

I believe what we're experiencing today is the kings of the earth taking their stand against God and His Anointed (Psalm 2:1-9). World rulers are running around in the futile attempt to prevent the kingdom of this world from becoming the kingdom of Jesus (Revelation 11:15). While they do so, God is sitting in heaven laughing at them. He laughs because He is in the process of giving the nations to Jesus as His inheritance.

We're in a battle of which the outcome isn't in question. We know how it's going to end. We also know that Jesus has all authority to end it and yet He hasn't. It continues. Why?

Why does Jesus allow this battle to go on?
Jesus serves the Father in what He does...and what He doesn't do.

The Father has appointed a day that Jesus is to come and bring an end to the world's defiance of Him. Until then He is giving time and opportunity for people to choose eternal life with His Son. The seeming delay is purposeful. It's the reason we're here on earth until He comes. God is making an appeal to the world, through us, to be reconciled to Him.

Our Father doesn't take us out of the world during times of tribulation. He is present with us through them. Our going through trial serves to refine our faith and make us more like Jesus. In being like Him we are living testimonies of God and what He is offering to a dying world.

God has empowered us with His Spirit to express the presence and power of Jesus in everything we do. Yet much of the church in America isn't having the impact upon our country that He intended. Something has happened.

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2Corinthians 11:3")

I believe what the apostle Paul was afraid would happen to Corinthian believers has befallen His church in America. We've strayed from the simplicity and purity of our love for Jesus...and it shows across our land.

It's the simplicity of our love that impacts the world around us. For some reason we've made the expression of our love for Jesus more complicated than it's to be. Because of this, we aren't connecting with people as He intended. We've departed from the simple way of sharing God's love with people in the way Jesus did.

Jesus is calling us back.

In His message to believers in Ephesus, Jesus commends His followers for upholding truth and persevering for His name's sake. But they had departed from what was the heart of their calling.

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
(Revelation 2:4-5)

The Ephesian believers had forgotten about love.

It's love that convinces people that God exists. His love working through us reveals to people's hearts their need of Him. Jesus told His church in Ephesus to remember from where they had fallen and to repent and do what they did at first. How they loved in the beginning transformed lives.

I think that we too have strayed from the simplicity of our devotion to Jesus. We've forgotten how simple acts of love changes hearts and saves people. It did so for us and will do so for those Jesus has yet to receive from the Father before He comes.

Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)

It's such a simple statement. Yet this truth reveals the very plan and power of God to accomplish what He desires.

You see, truth isn't correct facts. Truth is as a person. Jesus is the truth and He loves people.

Love isn't experienced institutionally or organizationally. It's experienced relationally between people. It's the simple interpersonal expression of God's love that people long for and respond to. In loving our neighbor this way, Jesus will finish what He started for mankind. The simplicity of love is His strategy, and our calling, for reaching the entire world with His offer of salvation.

One last thought.

If for some reason we should lose the abundant freedom and resources we've long enjoyed in America, what would the expression of our love for Jesus then look like? Would it be different than how we currently "do church"? Would it be something that people could relate to and take to heart as the world around them becomes increasingly lawless?

Could the humility that would come from our experiencing such a loss be what God will use to make us more fruitful in Him than we currently are? (John 15:2)

I believe this is something worth considering, and talking with Jesus about. Do you?

About the Author: Kevin Carmody and Tammii Carmody came to know Jesus as their Lord in the late 1970’s. During the years following, they participated in a number of short-term ministry trips to Central America and Western Europe while raising their two children. In the mid 1990’s, The Lord asked them to consider Abraham’s “other” descendants who lived in the Middle East...the Arab nations. In response, they resigned executive positions that they held in their occupations and joined ALL NATIONS in 2003 to receive ministry training as field workers. The Carmodys have lived and served in the countries of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Germany, ministering to both Arabic and Farsi speaking peoples with the love and forgiveness of Jesus. They now reside in Arizona.

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