This week the big news has been criminal Trump’s trial and the results handed down by twelve of his fellow citizens. The jury system is a form of justice in the American legal system.
The irony of it all hasn’t been lost amongst the chaos in the country. For over eight years the convicted felon claimed to be part of a party of law and order (Romans 13:1-5.)
He promised to restore the country to law and order all while attacking his political opponents who may have crossed a legal line. The hypocrisy is overwhelming by his actions.
- Fraud (deception)
- Greed
- Marital unfaithfulness
- Pride (openly boasting about his interactions with women)
What baffles me the most about the situation has been the reaction of the GOP and the Maga movement. Not only do they ignore the very laws they claim to value and protect, but they have continued to threaten civil war because they don’t like the results of the trial.
They believe America will rest in peace because criminal Trump was found guilty. Now they are flooding social media with Maga propaganda just like Hitler and the Nazis used propaganda during World War II.
Some have even blasphemed by comparing criminal Trump’s trial to the mock trial of Jesus. Trump is guilty, Jesus wasn’t.
But, we shouldn’t be surprised by this anti-Christian and un-American attitude of Maga. For the last year, Maga has preached that only criminal Trump can save America and restore it to greatness.
Restore
Restoration is a spiritual and physical concept. The word restore is defined as, “To bring back to existence or use, bring back to the original state; renew.
Christianity and Judaism both teach that the Earth has been defiled since the fall of the garden. The creation became cursed because it rejected God’s will and chose its own path. The sin of the first Adam has separated us all from our Creator (Romans 5:12.)
God isn’t surprised by the disobedience of the world, because He is sovereign (Psalm 115:3, Daniel 4:35.) Christianity also teaches that God has a plan to restore everything back to His original plan (Genesis 3:15, Psalm 103:4, John 3:16, Colossians 1:14, Galatians 3:13.)
The Apostle Paul remembered the Jewish teachings about how God promised to restore everything (Joel 2:25-26, Jeremiah 30:17.)
Šûḇ
The ancient world was notorious for being wicked (Genesis 19:1-38, Ezekiel 16:49-50, Jeremiah 23:14.) That’s why God commanded His people to be set apart from the world (Deuteronomy 14:2, Psalm 4:3, 1 Peter 2:9.)
The Hebrew word for restore in the Old Testament is šûḇ and it can also mean, “Turn back, deliver, return, or again,” depending on its context.
After Israel’s constant defeat by foreign governments, God promised to restore Israel (Genesis 12:2, Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 43:19, Jeremiah 29:11, Joel 2:22, 26.)
Israel is notorious for drifting away from God (Isaiah 53:6.) God constantly commanded Israel to return to Him (Isaiah 31:6 Jeremiah 4:1, Hosea 7:16.)
This process in Judaism is called”Teshuva,” below are the steps of the process for God’s people to return to Him.
- Regret
- Renounce
- Confess
- Reconcile
- Make amends
- Resolve
Part of Jesus’ earthly ministry was healing and restoring broken things to new. He gave life to dead things, just like His Father. Jesus healed, the Pharisees weighed down and destroyed hope with their heavy yokes (Matthew 23:4.)
In the Apostle John’s vision, Jesus again promises to restore everything to new (Revelation 21:1-5.) God is in the business of restoration and creation.
Growing up, I remember hearing the saying “Only Jesus saves. Today God’s people are once again looking for a political party and a convicted felon to save them and America.
Jesus warned His followers about false teachers and prophets who would deceive God’s people in the last days and give them false hope (Matthew 7:15; 24:24.) God promised long ago that He alone would save His people and creation (Isaiah 61:7-9, Zachariah 4:6, Malachi 3:2-4.)
Israel
Historically Israel was reformed in 1948. But God’s people are still scattered across the globe as refugees. Anti-Semitism is still rising.
Israel is fighting for peace and justice in a corrupt world that may never accept them. Much like the Maga movement is seeking its will by force. Neither are doing it God’s way. I am not sure if Israel will ever see peace on this side of heaven because until Jesus returns this world is defiled.
- Deception
- Greed
- Pride
- War
God has given His people the promise and future hope of Heaven where everything will be restored. There will be no more corruption, death, or sin and Jesus will reign on His throne in new Jerusalem (Revelation 7:7; 21:4.)
You’d think God’s people would be happy with heaven, but still, we thirst for more and our way. Israel and Maga need to just let it go because only God can Šûḇ!
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