God’s Word will NEVER Be Mocked or Return Void!
As of yesterday afternoon, I knew what the topic of FAM Chat would be tonight, because I planned to tie it into yesterday’s SOF post and discuss in depth that Apart from Christ, we can do NOTHING! But by late afternoon, I felt the Lord telling me that would not be the topic, even though He didn’t tell me what it would be. So by the end of the day, I deleted the reference I had already included about tonight’s FAM Chat, which I had already shared with some of the FAM Fellowship members as well! And then this morning, I still didn’t know what chat would be about tonight, or what my post today would be about, so I kept waiting for the Lord to speak to me. It was getting pretty late and I still didn’t have any idea, so I asked the Lord “When are you going to tell me what I’m supposed to write about today and what chat’s going to be about…if not what I had planned?” And right after that simple prayer, I checked my email, and there was the answer! Unfortunately, it’s not at all a pleasant topic in many ways, but on the other hand it’s pretty amazing, because it is absolute proof and evidence that God’s Word will NEVER be mocked or return void!
But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:16)
Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame.
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? (Jeremiah 8:9)
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
I had received a message from one of the FAM Fellowship members who attached a request for prayer, because of the number of divorces taking place among high profile Christian pastors, evangelists and performers. The message included a link to the following article, Megachurch founding pastors to seek divorce, detailing the announcement that Pastors Randy and Paula White just made to their congregation concerning their pending divorce. This particular member was concerned about that and distressed about the message it might send to her husband (a fallen pastor) and others, and I think she was probably surprised by my reaction and response. But with the announcement of the White’s divorce, it’s important to evaluate their situation from the perspective of God’s Word, because that’s the cornerstone of the stand we take for the restoration of our own marriages. Since we rely on the power and promise of God’s Word, we have to understand that God will ALWAYS honor and uphold His Word, despite what our spouses, today’s secular church, and the rest of the world may believe! And if we look closely enough at our own circumstances through the perspective of God’s Word, we will be able to see that at work in our own situations as well!
Many of the positions taken by this ministry are controversial to say the least, and very unpopular in many circles; even in Christian circles. And I have often had Paula White’s apparent success as a pastor and church leader brought to my attention as proof that what I believe and promote as biblical teachings concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage is not necessarily true; primarily that God does not always recognize and bless second marriages.
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:17-18)
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ (Matthew 5:31-33)
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” (Matthew 19:8-10)
It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Luke 16:17-18)
Yet, in keeping with God’s warning to all of us NOT to lean to or rely on our own understanding, we should not be so distressed about the news of the White’s pending divorce. Now I know that’s a VERY controversial statement, but being true to the Word of God often requires us to take a stand quite contrary to what the world believes, an even what is taught and acceptable and common practice in secular Christian churches today..
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2)
We don’t know the circumstances leading to Randy or Paula White’s divorces from their first spouses, so it’s possible that their marriage could be an adulterous relationship and therefore, not recognized and blessed by the Lord, despite all previous appearances to the contrary! And IF that’s the case, this announcement is nothing but God doing exactly what His Word says He will do, so instead of being an occasion for distress or alarm, that would instead be an occasion to recognize and be in awe of God’s never ending faithfulness to uphold His Word, just as He will do for us as we stand against the way of the world and the gates of Hell for the restoration of our own marriages! What if one of their former spouses has been standing for their marriage all this time, being faithful to the covenant made of their marriage vows? What if they stood all this time, even in the face of a very high profile remarriage and apparently successful ministry? What if they stood on the power and promise of God’s Word for the restoration of their marriage and family despite all the odds? What if they relied on God’s promise that He would not receive anything from their spouse’s hand, offering or worship, or listen to or answer their prayers, because they had been unfaithful to the spouse of their youth, though he or she had been faithful (Malachi 2), and because they had failed to live in right relationship with that spouse (1 Peter 3:7)? Those are all things that we don’t know. But we do know that God’s Word will NOT be mocked or return void, and that anyone who stands on it and puts their hope in it will NOT be ashamed or disappointed!
Unfortunately, as I searched the internet for information about their first marriages and divorces, much to my dismay, I did however discover considerable cause for great disappointment and concern for all of us as Christians; which could just as easily explain the circumstances Randy and Paula find themselves in at this time and why it is likely to only get worse from here. We can’t live contrary to the Word of God without it catching up with us eventually, just as God’s Word promises and warns, and this article, Paula and Randy White: Of Faith, Fame & Fortune, from the Tampa Tribune/May 20, 2007, reveals a lifestyle so contrary to the way we’re called to live as Christians, that God has no choice but to deal with it. Otherwise He would make a total mockery of His Word.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7)
But it’s heartbreaking to se yet another high profile ministry and another man and woman of God fall in such a dreadful way, because that only brings great disrepute to the name of Christ in the eyes of an already skeptical and unsaved world. So even though there is reason for those of us standing for the restoration of our marriages to be encouraged as we witness God’s Word coming to pass just as He promises it ALWAYS will; it is a very sad day to see how the devil has been glorified as his wicked works are magnified in this very high profile situation. So we need to keep Randy and Paula White and their families and church members in our prayers, because the cost of their mistakes will be experienced and paid for by so many innocent people besides themselves, and that really breaks my heart. Yet, we can also rely on God’s promise in Romans 8:28 that He can and will turn even this to the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. So once again, what the devil meant for evil, God intends for good. And if there isn’t any more good to come from this other than the fact that it proves God’s power and faithfulness to honor and uphold His Word and will, that’s more than good enough! And witnessing something like this is a very strong reminder of the lesson we all have to take from the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders, which is a clear warning that hearing and knowing God’s Word is of no value if we don’t put it into practice.
So no matter how things “appear” in the natural, we have to keep our focus squarely on the promise of God’s Word and His omnipotent power and never ending faithfulness to bring every word to pass…no matter WHAT we might hear or see to the contrary! Just remember…GOD’S WORD WILL NEVER BE MOCKED OR RETURN VOID! And be blessed and encouraged!
From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. (Isaiah 46:11)