Weeks 21 & 22 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

On Thursady 4th June 2009, US President Barack Obama delivered a powerful keynote speech in the Egyptian capital Cairo (Egypt is a strategic choice of location – a land of spiritual slavery). His aim was to reach out to a billion Muslims around the world. Indeed, Muslims and non-Muslims from around the world listened to the speech (see pics).

He started by saying “I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country.”

He then considers seven issues that have to be, in his view, confronted. These are violent extremism, the Israeli/Palestinian dispute, nuclear weapons (with a reference to Iran), democracy, religious freedom, rights of women and economic development.

He said “……Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it. So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity."

Towards the end of his speech, he created a sense of shared experiences by saying “……..We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written. The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another." The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace." The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God……. The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

The key phrase he used is a new beginning, with mutual interest and mutual trust added for good effect. He quoted from the Koran before his quotes from the Torah and the Bible as a way of flattering his audience. The emphasis is on peaceful co-existence of all nations, irrespective of race, culture and religion.

No doubt, it is a speech that appeals to the common sense and the desire of every human being. But I believe it actually sets a veiled agenda for a One World Religion and a One World Government. The peace that will come in future will be temporal and virtual. One of the indicators is a treaty of peace between Israel and Palestine, by creating of a State of Palestine within the Holy Land.

When the whole world buys into the new agenda, Christians who confess Jesus as the ONLY way to heaven [Acts 4:12] will be seen as divisive and extreme. They will be attacked in the same breath as the militant Islamists of today.

This is where outrageous faith comes in, faith to believe that true peace will ONLY come when our Lord Jesus comes a 2nd time to lock the devil up for a 1000 years, followed by the Final Judgment before God.

Let us get ourselves ready for the roller-coaster ride that is to come. Let us hold true to the Word of God and not be weary and fearful when our faith is challenged. “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered……may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing praise to his name…….his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him…….God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land……When you went out before your people, O God…..the earth shook…..You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor. [Ps 68:1-10 NIV]

God demonstrated His might by performing many miracles through Elijah, a person with outrageous faith. God gives and withholds as He pleases. When King Ahab of Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord by worshipping Baal, God held back rain for a few years. Then God spoke to Elijah to present himself to Ahab and let the king know that rain is on it way. “….Elijah said to Ahab, ‘….. there is the sound of a heavy rain.’ ……Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. ‘Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” [IKing 18:41-46 NIV] Elijah kept believing in God even when God did not answered right away. He was truly a man of outrageous faith!

For us to develop and maintain outrageous faith, we need to repeatedly ask this question – Do I believe Jesus as the Son of God and the King of all kings & Lord of all lords in the entire universe? Pilate, the Roman Governor asked Jesus a similar question. “Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’…….Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?" Pilate asked.” [John 18:28-40 NIV] Pilate, like so many, did not believe in Jesus. As a result he gave in to the demand of the crowd who wanted Jesus to be crucified.

When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, the dominion of the world and its riches came into the hands of Satan. Satan will continue to use money to draw many away from God. So be sure of these – “.....Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse……He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him……He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. [Prov 28:6,10-11,20 NIV]

Amen!