Back in the day, we were taught there are 5 senses. Sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. These senses send information to our brains and equip us to perceive and understand the world we live in. Our senses help us to enjoy the world God created and also to protect ourselves from dangers in the world.
When someone ‘takes leave of their senses’ it means they lose good judgement and are no longer able to think or act rationally. We know life is more difficult WITHOUT our senses but today we are reminded about the dangers when these senses get lost. While many around us act as though they have lost their senses, what happens when this becomes a permanent condition? What happens when mass numbers of people go blind?
The fires in California are the latest to expose how many have lost their senses. Political leaders are in the crosshairs, but the people of California share in the responsibility. Everyone could see the empty reservoirs. No one smelled fire from what should have been regular controlled burns. All Californians could hear and see legislation passed to fund protective fire services but the money was never touched because it was re-allocated to other countries around the world. The National Weather Service issued a written and spoken fire warning on January 2 that was palpable, but it fell on deaf ears. Where have our senses gone?
The Bible reminds us in James that when we pursue and make friends of the world it makes us an ENEMY of God. I’d suggest California and much of the United States has left friendship waaay behind. We have flat out fallen in love with the world and are in danger of God’s wrath. And everyone knows, love is blind.
We blindly send billions of our tax dollars to foreign countries to pay for their benefits and retirement while the homeless sleep under our bridges. Our leaders turn a deaf ear to protecting our citizens and punishing those who steal from and kill Americans. Citizens talk about the injustices but no one feels the consequences for evil actions. In other words, deaf, dumb AND blind.
It’s plain to see our borders haven’t been protected. Our hospital and housing infrastructure is overwhelmed and crumbling under the stress of the influx. Much of the national infrastructure has been left unprotected and refineries burn, bridges are destroyed, communities lose clean water. The land is permanently polluted when trains are derailed with toxic chemicals. Have we ignored our senses and no longer see the evil spreading across the nation?
Protecting your own people comes first…this is Biblical. Jesus protected His own first and foremost. Christ prayed to God about his people and said ‘ “…the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” ‘ The bottom line issue in protection is knowing who and what to protect against.
Many of the decisions made by politicians and everyday folks center on loving things of the world, benefiting themselves and putting profit ahead of people. The Bible speaks about people whose ‘idols are silver and gold made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel….nor can they utter a sound with their throats.’ Psalm 115:4-7. In other words, their senses have been lost.
America WAS founded on Judaeo-Christian principles. The Founding Fathers recognized and credited the God of Creation in our Constitution and on numerous Federal Government buildings. They declared National holidays as times to thank God and seek divine protection. Since then, we have taken God out of our homes, schools and government. In the resulting vacuum, people have lost their senses and fallen blindly in love with the world. The One who has protected us since 1776, not 1619, has been relegated to second chair. As we slouch towards Gomorrah, we’ve seen evil and the evil one tolerated and accepted.
Jesus put it bluntly… “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:4-5. There is an evil one and HE causes people to lose their senses. The evil one is in the world and can take your senses captive to do his will.
It can be frustrating when we aren’t united in seeing what is going on in America. Christians can be even more frustrated when people ignore, reject and oppose what God teaches in the Bible. Nevertheless, ‘The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone…opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.’ 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
The fires are just getting started. Christ followers must lead the way to regain our senses and His protection. With the evil one empowering those in love with the world, we need real protection not just investments and hedges. Long ago the prophets wrote about the depth and scope of God’s protection. ‘You will not leave in haste or go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.’ Isaiah 52:12. In other words, if you submit and follow the God of Creation, He has your back, He walks beside you and He’s going ahead of you to protect you. That’s not an insurance policy. This is a promise from God.
Take it from a man just like us. ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’ Psalm 18:2. Currencies WILL rise and fall. Get ready, they also WILL default. When bitcoin drops in half you will need real protection. When a sleeper cell shows up in your city, there is only one shield of protection.
Most Americans know OF God and his son, Jesus, but they don’t KNOW Him. It’s hard to fully trust who and what you don’t know. I get it, but Peter reminds us God IS a protector. ‘If he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah…and seven others…if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly…..if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials….’ 2 Peter 2:5-9. He has an impeccable track record much longer than bitcoin.
The Bible tells us there is a time coming when the fires really start burning and destroying more than Los Angeles. At this time, God’s messenger says…. ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Revelation 7:3. Hear this reminder and think back to blood over the doorways in Egypt when God protected the Jews.
Love IS blind. Make sure who and what you love can protect you through the days to come.