Tim Tebow Kneels....Condemns The World

Tim Tebow Kneels... Condemns The World.

Imagine this as a headline in the morning paper or TV news. Tim Tebow throws a winning play, drops to his knee to thank his Lord Jesus Christ and condemns the world. You might ask, why would I say such a thing. Well the reason I would say such a thing is because it is in the Bible. Let me give you a few verses.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

God spoke to Noah. Why? " Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Gen 6:8) God had mercy on him and choose him to preach to the world. "For if God....did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness..."(2 Peter 2) The Greek word here translated "preacher" kkerux (κηρυξ) refers to a herald, or “one who announces.
Even if he weren't saying anything, his working on the ark was a silent witness to the belief and faith of Noah, that what God had said would come to pass. And when he did speak to the people of his day, Noah’s words according to Jewish tradition were: “Be ye turned from your evil ways and works, lest the waters of the flood come upon you, and cut off all the seed of the children of men.”

Noah believed the divine warning and he was "moved with Godly fear." Noah knew that God was not a man that He should lie. In obedience Noah prepared the ark for the salvation of his household by which "he condemned the world."

There it is. Noah condemned the world by his obedience to God's voice. He obeyed God's command and acted. Noah believed God. Noah had a faith that was sure, knowing that what God said He would do. It would come to pass. While Noah was building the ark, they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. (Matt 24:38)

The LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.(Gen 7:1) He was righteous because he believed God and had the faith to act on God's commands. Faith and works. They do not contradict each other. They compliment each other.

"and did not know until the flood came...."(Matt 24:39)
The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth....And all flesh died that moved on the earth...God destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. The flood took them all away. (Gen 7; Matt 24:39)

They didn't believe. They refused the warning from God through Noah. Why? "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." They were blinded by the god of this age. They walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience....fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath....(Eph 2)

Everyone is not a child of God. That comes from the mind of those who like the people of Noah's day perished in the flood. They refused to believe because "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)

When a believer in the only name under heaven by which we can be saved, obeys the call of God, goes against the flow of this world he invites condemnation, ridicule, they think you strange you do not run with them in the same flood of disspation, speaking evil of you. (1 Peter 4) Because as the Apostle Paul said, To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ( 2 Cor 2)

Now I do not know Tim Tebow's heart but by his obedience in thanking His Lord and Savior, before millions, he is a tremendeous witness for the truth. The Associated Press reports that the Bible verse, John 3:16, became the most searched Google term after Tebow led the Broncos to an overtime win.

There is a war raging all around us, "your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can destroy" ....a war for souls, a desire by the evil one to take human beings away from that only name, that only way, that only door by which anyone can enter into the kingdom of God. God will use whatever means He desires to glorify His name. Every born again, born from above believer who stands up for his faith condemns the world.

You make a difference in every area of your life...in your place of employment "whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Col 3:23) Where go, whoever you come into contact, in person, online, wherever... "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col 3:17)

As I see it, Tim Tebow takes God's words to heart. All God's people should. But It won't be easy. Living out what you profess. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. " (2Tim 3:12) But as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords proclaimed "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus made everyone in His day look bad. He pulled no punches in exposing their sin. And they crucified Him for it. “If the world hates you, Jesus said, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.“ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master." "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Yes fear Him." (John 15:18-20)

It is the same kind of fear Noah had that moved him to build an ark, to save his household. And it's by Godly fear that one has the faith to trust, believe, and obey what God has proclaimed, that God's people condemn the world.

Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.( 2 Peter 3)

Playing The God Game

2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” (Zech 8)

23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:28-29

"A seed of religion is divinely sown in all." (calvin) Then according to Calvin I see that mankind must worship something. Even if it be their own inane insistence that there is no God. But Scripture says God has revealed Himself in nature, by the things that are made. (Romans 1) But people by nature, in their rebellion, want not to be governed by a God who is Holy, Righteous and desirous that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. If man does not worship the God of creation revealed in the Old and New Testaments, he will fain to erect an idol to palcate that God absent vacuum that plagues each restless soul.

"Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deut 4:23-24))

As I see it, the church has come to worship programs, and numbers, and youth, and music, and diversity, not only of the people they attract, but the tolerance of the rebellion they accept among it's own congregations. We're under grace so anything is permissable in the age of the enlightened church. They wallow in the mire of the corruption of greed and perversity. Their leaders proclaiming they have a word from God, a healing guaranteed, a hundred fold when you plant a seed of faith. Which always involves giving a large sum to their ministry.
Their God is their stomach.... men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain....their glory is in their shame.....walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage..... What does Scripture say? From such withdraw yourself.

The world has influenced the church. With it's consultants who stress the importance of programs that will gurantee to pack'em in. Not so much Bible preaching though, that's a turn off. Tell them they can be happy. That every day can be a friday. Jesus is a great guy, wants to be your buddy. Rather than a Jesus who proclaimed " “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"(Matt 16:24-26)

Paul reiterates that when he writes to his young charge, Timothy " Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth.....(2 tim 4:3-5)

What is that truth? What is God's will for a believers life?

"prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." Be set apart for the service of God. (1 Peter 1:14-16)

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ( 1 Thess 4:4-5)
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.(1 Thess 5:16-22)
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants (slaves) of God. (1 Peter 2:15-16)

Contrary to what many preachers, (so called) spout today in the guise of Thus sayeth the Lord. You have been bought with a price, the precious blood of the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. Our slate of transgressions wiped clean, rather than slaves to sin, now slaves to God. The benefit leading to holiness and the result being eternal life. (Romans 6) For without holiness no one will see the Lord.

I have known Christians (so called) who steal from their employers. What do I mean? They steal time. Spend time at work in personal pursuits. Rather than in doing what they are paid to do. There are those who steal Christian music (this one amazes me, really) from Christian Bookstores. There are those who steal from companies through the internet. They download music or films illegally. It is stealing.
There are those who lie and gossip about others because they wish to increase their own standing, to make themselves look good within an organization. These are those who believe the rules don't apply to them. They will give an account to Him who will judge the living and the dead.
We must all be careful for the world and it's desires wish to suck us into the maze of it's filth. James gives us sound biblical advice in our quest for a closer relationship with our God.

" Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:4-8)

Humble yourselves. Listen to what God says. Our heavenly Father really does know best. Pray He will soften your heart, root our those seeds of rebellion. In other words Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. For God graces grace to the humble but resists the proud.
What happens to those who don't listen? Who reject God's word, God's call to repent.

24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Playing the God game? Your way? That is a sure fire way to invite His wrath. For it truly is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For our God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. As the Apostle John, in his last years said, " Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (1John 5:21)