A songwriter once penned these words: “Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear; freedoms we all hold dear now are at stake . . .” When one looks at the political arena, it appears little above mass confusion. When one looks at the religious scene it is void of most of the Bible teachings. When one looks at the economic stage, it is so tenuous as to cause men’s hearts to fail. If all this seems to paint a bleak picture of today’s world, it is meant to do so. But there is more, much more!
The crumbling foundation of the family unit leaves children without parents, or in some cases single parents. Then the demands of the workplace leave little time for children who are largely abandoned to a latchkey position to formulate their own distorted views of life. Each ensuing generation is in an ever worsening condition. People ask,”What is it all about. What is happening to the world we live in?”
Certainly, these are times so often prophesied by God’s Word. It would seem a time for the masses to hear the clarion call of the gospel. It should be a time of widespread repentance, of men seeking the will of the Lord with a contrite heart. But just the opposite is the mainstream of life. What is one to make of it all?
The apostle Paul informed us of these times. He wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.” Think about it!
The “Mystery of Iniquity.” The term “Mystery” is from the ancient Greek term,
“Musterion.” It derives its existence from a base word “Muo” which basically means “To shut the mouth.” Hence, a mystery is something known to the initiated, but unknown to the uninitiated. It remains a mystery to those unqualified and unwilling to search out and know the meaning.
“Iniquity” is a translation of the Greek word “Law” (nomous) with a negative prefix, to literally translate “no law.” It means not given to or ruled by law; contempt and violation of law, wickedness. This is aptly descriptive of modern times, but they will worsen because there is a restraining power who lets (restrains) until he be taken out of the way, so that ultimate chaos may prevail.
The so-called progress of humanity apart from God has led to the abolition of world war; the vaunted progress of medical science has led to longer life spans, and as the world struggles to balance trade, unite religious movements, and to feed the bulging population creating population shifts of illegal migration, the world ripens for the ultimate rule of its god. His predetermined end of it all is destruction in many forms, but the final stage will be Armageddon.
It is a millennia long plan that will go down in eternal defeat for all evil. Sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the stomach.
FOR THOUGHT: Do you believe the world today is population by folks who largely disdain law because it gets in the way of what they want ot do? If civil law is so viewed, what about spiritual law? Do you think religious people violate God’s laws to engage in religious activity that pleases them instead of God? If so, do you see the mystery of iniquity at work?
THE PRIMACY OF LANGUAGE
It has been said that if one knew and understood every word of every language, he would then possess the sum of all the knowledge of men. Although there is such a thing as experiential knowledge, it mostly affirms the validity of the knowledge base. So, what is this thing about the primacy of language? Think with me for a moment!
The apostle John begins his writing of the gospel with what appears to be a simple statement, yet it is profoundly beyond the apprehension of mortal minds. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
Later in chapter one he tells us that “The Word was made flesh….” No one doubts that this is a direct reference to Jesus.
What is underscored is the initial time, place, and status. It was the Word. This is
“Logos” in the Greek language. The same word is used repeatedly in reference to the common utterances of men. The idea of a word is undergirded by the necessity of a mental concept.
From the concept a unique word is formulated by which that concept may be conveyed from one mental entity to another. This process, restricted to a single concept, and a single word to convey it is utterly profound. Consider then that the unfathomable intellect of God created multiple languages in an instant of time at the tower of Babel.
John’s introduction of the Word draws from, and is enhanced by, the initial introduction to deity in Genesis 1:1. The Hebrew word for God is “Elohim.” That term specifically denotes not only the intellect of concept, and the production of terminology to convey it, but also the innate power to make the meaning of the words (concept) to become physical reality instantly. Such is the vastness of the divine intellect that is described in comparison to that of man as the difference in distance from heaven to earth. Isaiah 55:9.
But God in His inexplicably vastness of mercy and grace gave to us the Word, and the Word carried out the concept of redemption for an otherwise hopelessly fallen race.
Additionally, He has committed to us the Word with which to permeate the world of men. There are many concepts out there, but the ends of them are the ways of death.
FOR THOUGHT: What concepts are you conveying to others? They are conveyed through the primacy of language. What are your words? What are the ultimate ends of your words? Death, or life? Jesus is The Word, and the words He spoke are light and life!
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