It's a gray day here in
Michigan . . . again. November brought just 27% of possible sunshine, which
is about average for November. December and January are about the same kind
of months. That means it will be gray for 73% of the time. Not good advertising
for Michigan to you folks who live with a great deal more sunshine. But we here
in Michigan get used to it. We don't really notice it much--until there is a
day like one last week where the sun shone all day and the sky was so blue.
Everyone wanted to get out and enjoy it. But then we settle back into the gray
of Michigan winters and don't think about it much.
We live in a world of humanistic
relativism as it is called. That's a fancy title for gray. No right or wrong;
no black of evil or sunshine of right. A world where power is right and compromise
is the order of the day. Where our political leaders buy votes and compromise
principles. Mr. Reagan called Russia "the evil empire" and was harshly criticized
because being politically correct those days was detente with Russia. Detente--that's
an interesting word. It means, "live at peace with the enemy."
This thinking rubs off on
us as Christians too. We begin to think power is right and detente with sin
is politically correct. We begin to think that the compromise of principles
is noble and ecumenism (unity) becomes enshrined as the goal. We begin to think
that the thinking of this world is right when in reality it is the enemy.
Then a book comes along
to shake us back into our senses. A ray of sunshine breaks through the gray
and causes us to see the blue sky of right and wrong, black and white. It tells
us that there are really just two kingdoms. One is controlled by Satan and he
is the father of lies. He might appear as an angel of light, but he is the epitome
of "the evil empire." His goal is clear. Do whatever it takes to bring dishonor
to the person of Christ. Even if he has to use religion to do it. His kingdom
is the enemy and there can be no detente. If we will win in this war we must
be loyal to our King and He has already defeated the foe. That means all who
are on the side of the Lord Jesus are assured of victory--so why compromise?
That is the essence of stupidity. For an uncompromising view of these two kingdoms,
Bill MacDonald's new book "Worlds Apart" is must reading. Be challenged and
refreshed with some real sunshine in the midst of all the gray.
How do you live this kind
of life Bill speaks about? Are there any real life examples of men who have
stormed the gates of the enemy and rescued those in his clutches? Men who have
hazarded their lives giving up all to follow the King? Yes, there are. Mr. Harold
MacKay was one of them. As I read his autobiography the verse that kept coming
to my mind was "whose faith follow." From Galt, Ontario, he followed his Lord
to the back woods of West Virginia. There he pioneered new territory for the
Lord and pushed back the strongholds of Satan. From there he went to North Carolina
and labored for many years seeing many turn from darkness to light. In each
place he worked, he didn't just leave them, but strove to see them gathered
together according to New Testament principles. Do they work today? Harold MacKay
thought they did and he proved it. "Morning in My Heart," the title of the book
and the theme song of his gospel radio program is a delightfully written book
of a true gospel pioneer. The last chapter of his life is written by his daughter-in-law.
This book is a fitting tribute to a great man of God. Read it; enjoy it; be
challenged by it. But most of all, Mr. MacKay would want you to praise his God
who still lives and works today and Who will fulfill all His promises to those
who trust Him.