There is a scene near the end of the movie Cold Mountain where Nicole Kidman’s character, Ada Monroe, confronts the villainous character, Teague, played by Ray Winstone. Ada has seen evil increasing. Evil men like Teague and his marauders are killing, stealing and inciting terror without fear of retribution. They have become a law unto themselves. Vicious men like Teague steal, threaten and kill with impunity. Ada tells Teague, when once again being threatened saying, “There will be a reckoning.” His response to her was, “Reckoning is for your world, not mine.” And this is where we are in our country today.
We see God warning that He will require a reckoning from every man in Genesis 9:5. In Romans 14:12 we are also told that each of us shall give an account of ourselves to God. We seem to live in a time where man can make up his own rules and then hold up a bible or say the name Jesus and whatever evil you do will become clean. All theft, all pride, all avarice, all murder and all twisting of His word to get what you want will be answered for. In every world. No one gets a pass. And if you say you’re not like that but support such people, you’re guilty.
We have watched a new order come into power in America. We have incorporated some of the most evil times in our history yet are managing to attempt to whitewash them by having so many in our “church” sign on as if this is acceptable. We are allowing murder by government officials (ICE). We are threatening constitutional freedoms and disregarding lower court rulings against unlawful acts hoping you can get to the Supreme Court, which our President feels he has power over. Many of the harmful acts being done is intentional. It’s being done to instill fear. People of different ethnicity fear being detained or jailed. Those who speak out are being investigated and reporters are being denied access. Threats are the order of the day. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Speak carefully.
Isaiah 10:3 (ESV) says, “What will you do on the day of punishment? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth?” Isaiah is warning that your connections, your self-protecting interpretation of scripture, your money and esteem, your might, and your ignorance of the penalty that awaits those that believe they will escape the coming judgement, will not preserve or spare you. 1 Corinthians 3:13 says, “Each one’s work will become clear on judgement day. It will be revealed by fire.” And the fire will test each one’s work to assess its quality and motive.
Each day we are seeing evil in our world become darker. Men walking contrary to what is right become bolder. And when good people, those who can discern between right and wrong, sit back and remain quiet, this evil will only increase. You may agree with the evil spoken by Ray Winstone in Cold Mountain that your world is immune from a reckoning but you are sadly mistaken. The coming reckoning will be such a severely strict awakening. Peter warns us in his first epistle that judgement will begin at the house of the Lord. We must seek Him in all truth. We must speak against the evil that has been able to take its place comfortably at the table of our nation and of our Lord. There will be a reckoning. We must pray for His guidance and insight. We must stand. Blessings.
