Juneteenth: America in the Hands of a Just God*

      This week, we marked "Juneteenth" as a national observance. Two years after Lincoln freed the slaves, a union general came to Texas to post fliers in order to inform those still kept in slavery by that they were free. Those who owned the slaves in Texas never told them of their freedom in order to benefit from their slaves continued free labor. Juneteenth marks and memorializes that delayed freedom. Our nation continues to be deeply divided over many issues: racial, cultural, political, economic, and more. God is both just and jealous and we have offended the Most High God with this wickedness.

     The prophet Micah wrote of the LORD's voice that cries to the city. The wise hear and discern the source of that cry, yet the wicked continue in their wickedness in order to accumulate treasure through deception and theft. The prophet wrote of the LORD: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8-10). Are we still a just, humble nation of people, showing mercy to those who need mercy? We are continually fed a diet of lies from all sources and agendas. Only God is true, and every man a liar, His Word declares. Micah warned that because of continuing violence, deceit and greed, the whole land will suffer desolation "because of thy sins." They would no longer enjoy success or prosperity, but rather, lack and reproach (v. 11-15). The LORD said in Deuteronomy that blessing or cursing would result from the keeping or breaking of God's ordinances. Recently the state of Louisiana made a law requiring that the Ten Commandments must be posted in every school, and many raised strenuous objections. We claim to be a nation of laws, but the Ten Commandments were the first laws given to man. Also written in Deuteronomy is the LORD's command not to oppress a hired servant, but that he be paid his wages promptly. The LORD also commanded that the children should not be put to death for the fathers' sins, yet how many millions of children over many years have died in abortion? The LORD demands that justice must be given to the most vulnerable in society: the stranger, the fatherless and the widows. (see Deut. 24:14-18). In our nation, there are unfairly low wages paid to workers while CEOs of corporations are paid millions. In our history, immigrants have been treated with prejudice. African Americans, Native Americans and other minorities have been attacked and are the victims of genocide. The elderly must choose between food and needed medicines. Veterans are homeless. Are we walking in the justice, humility and mercy that the LORD, a just and jealous God, has commanded?

     Jeremiah wrote the Word of the LORD: "Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no wrong, do no violence, to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place...Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong..." (Jer. 22:3, 13). Instead, the LORD reminded us that it was well with those who did judgment and justice: "He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD, but thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it." (v. 14-17). Our injustice will cost us by God's hand.

     Ezekiel wrote regarding the same existing conditions of oppression, robbery and vexing the poor, the needy and the stranger as we read in Jeremiah above. The LORD then said, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the LORD God." (Ezek. 22:29-31). Last time, the judgment came by water. This time, it will be by fire. The prophet Malachi also warned of the LORD's judgment against the oppressors of the hireling, the widow, the fatherless and the stranger.  He also added sorcerers, adulterers and false swearers to those who would be judged: "For I am the LORD, I change not;" The only reason that the LORD did not consume "the sons of Jacob" altogether was because of His covenant promises to the fathers. (Mal. 3:5-6). Are we ready for this judgment?

     As Paul commented while in Athens, Greece, there are many religions, and all of them build temples to their gods, but Christianity is the only faith that declares that the God who created all dwells in living temples not made by human hands. That temple is each of us who welcomes Him into our lives. Paul said that this same God of all revealed that all mankind has descended from one blood, from the eight people on Noah's Ark who were spared by grace from God's universal judgment by water of the wicked of the earth. (Our DNA is encoded with the name of the LORD: YHWH.) The Lord desires that all should therefore seek Him for He is not far from each of us, Paul told the Greeks. He cannot be represented by gold, silver, stone or anything else made by men. While God had previously tolerated this ignorance and superstition, He would no longer "wink" at it, but He has appointed a day to judge those who do not repent. God raised Jesus from the dead to confirm this true knowledge of Him and to establish His righteousness among men. (Acts 17:22-32).

     Most of the evils that we have seen above are driven by the coveting of wealth. Jesus also mentioned that it was difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is true because there are those who trust in wealth rather than God, but wealth cannot save from judgment. James said "...the coming of the Lord draweth nigh", and he warned the rich especially: "...weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: ye have heaped treasure together for the last days...the hire of the labourers...which is of you kept back by fraud...the cries of them...are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth...You have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you." (James 5:1-6). Even the death of the just is for the enrichment of those who trust in wealth. However, to the believers in Christ, James encouraged them to have patience as they wait for the return of the Lord: "Grudge not against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (v. 7-9). Paul also wrote: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute...Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life." (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Jesus also warned: "Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." He then told the parable of the rich man who spent his time building bigger storehouses for the bounty of his harvest. After the rich man had secured his abundance, he declared that he would take his ease, eat, drink and be merry. However, that very night God told him that his soul would be required of him. What good would all of his stored abundance do him?' Jesus said, 'So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (Lk. 12:15-21).

      Oppression of others also occurs because of false beliefs, and reliance on philosophies and false science that deny God (see 1 Tim. 6:20).  There are also those who cause strife and divisions among believers contrary to the godly doctrine, and they deceive many. They do so to serve “their own belly.” Paul warned to avoid those who do so. Paul was gladdened by the obedience of the believers in Rome and told them to be “wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (Rom. 16:17-20).

     Our nation is severely divided in every way. Mark those who cause division and judge properly. Judge yourself so that you won’t be judged. The Church and its leaders need discernment in all of these serious matters. America, Church, wake up!

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 6/23//24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.