The "Morning Star"

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.  I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16

Jesus is called the "Morning Star!" The appearance of the morning star ushers in the dawn of a new day and terminates the night.  When Jesus came, the long awaited, new day of hope dawned and the old night of despair ended.

When the "Morning Star" comes into a life it is the dawn of a new day.  That is why it is written, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all thing are become new." (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

The enemy doesn't want that to happen and he doesn't want people to know that it can happen.  He has always attempted to prevent the 'good news' from being shared and he has increased his efforts in these final days. He has managed to enlist the assistance of judges, lawyers, politicians and various organizations, all members of the "Don't Mention Jesus Club."

The charter group called Peter and John into court and commanded them not to "speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:18) The Apostles' answer was that it was a matter of obeying them or obeying God. (vvs 19, 20) The Apostles obeyed God!

Our choice is the same!  The enemy can talk of "constitutional violation" "political correctness"  "separation of church and state" adinfinitum but we have our mandate. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

Jesus said it! Do we obey Jesus or the ACLU?

There is a story about Elijah the prophet in 1st Kings 19.  It was unconstitutional in those days (according to the constitution of queen Jezebel) to worship the Lord God Jehovah.  Elijah took his stand for God but was discouraged because he thought that he stood alone.  Actually there were 7,000 worshippers of God but they were the original "silent majority."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only hope, in an otherwise pretty hopeless world situation.  There are a lot of us who believe that and it is not the time to be silent about it.

Jesus said, "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." (Matthew 10:27)
 
That sounds like Jesus means for us to stand up and be counted.

  (Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, WY, drbc@bresnan.net)