Pastor's Ponderings, November 5, 2018

Can We All Get Along?

During the riots in Los Angeles, CA on May 1, 1992, Rodney King made a television appearance in which he said, “…can we all get along?”  This poignant request was made during a riot where over sixty people died and over 2000 were injured.  Since the 18^thcentury, the United States has had a sad history of racial conflicts, between Protestants and Irish Catholics, African Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Chileans, Filipinos, Japanese and Armenians. Can we all get along? 

The Bible says that those who love the Lord should have no fellowship with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:16, 17). It further emphasizes that those who love God are in this world, but we are not of this world (John 15:19).  For those of who want to win the lost at any cost and win the world for Christ (Proverbs 11:30), how can we win them over to Christ? Can we love those who we cannot tolerate?

The answer is that those who love God are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). According to Calvary Chapel South Bay, that means we are a life-sustaining element to the world. We are to tell a dying world that all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s standards (Romans 3:23). However, God wants all of us delivered from Satan’s power and to enjoy the fruits of righteousness in His eternal kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

Because of man’s continued inhumanity to man, we will not get along together on earth, but we are to allow God to use us to share His love so that one day we will all get along.  In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John saw a vision where no one could number the mass of people.  They all had white robes with one purpose which was praise and glorify God (Revelation 7:9, 10).  Let us win everyone to Christ so that one day in eternity, we will all get along together in Him.

2 Corinthians 6:16, 17 
New International Version (NIV)

16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

John 15:19
New International Version (NIV)

19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Proverbs 11:30
King James Version (KJV)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Matthew 5:13
New International Version (NIV)

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Romans 3:23
New International Version (NIV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Colossians 1:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Revelation 7:9, 10
New International Version (NIV)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”