Practicing Lawlessness
Well another year has been rung in and crazy has continued. Nothing new there. However, with the return of a certain person to the White House, there is something that must be examined. There is a word that has been attached to this person in their prior administration that continues to follow him and those who follow him. The word is LAWLESSNESS. A general definition of the word means: the quality or condition of being without regard for the law; behavior that is contrary to or shows indifference to the law.
A favorite scripture here in these last days is found in Matt. 7: 22-23: Many will say to Me in that day”Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them "‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”(NKJV) But what does it mean to practice lawlessness? To practice something means that you routinely engage in the activities that are described, things that go against the law or shows indifference to the law. This particular scripture is used generally as an end times or judgement day scripture. However, I would posit that we are seeing, in this present hour a separation or distinction of those who truly are Christ followers vs those who are baptised into something other than the Christ of Scripture.
The practice of lawlessness, just as the practice of violin or piano, causes you to develop muscle memory. Muscle memory develops as you engage in repeated activity. Muscle memory is honed and strengthened over time. As we are seeing from this group of another baptism, the continued practice of the disregard for the law, of man or God, causes a persisting condition of sinfulness. Lawlessness looks like disregarding God’s command to not afflict the stranger among you (Deuteronomy). Lawlessness looks like setting anyone or anything above the Living God. I could go on…
Considering the statement, depart from me, I know you not. While we typically think this is in regards to separating at the end times, I am persuaded that this separation is occuring now. Those who practice lawlessness are increasingly finding themselves devoid of the peace of God, devoid of the joy of the Lord. They know nothing of the contentment that comes from resting in the haven that only the Living God can be. They find themselves striving to bring about a form of heaven that looks like them and worships like them. There is no intimacy with the Father, no breath of the Holy Spirit, nor any power. There is a continual striving. There is continual anger at some unseen enemy. There is a continual forcing of a lifestyle, when those who follow Christ have flow.