ALLEGIANCE TO GOD ALONE!

 

Last week we celebrated our nation's Independence day. Stephanie and I drove back from our daughter's house as the night skies increasingly were filled with fireworks commemorating out nation. Stephanie mentioned that it seems every 4th of July we are on the road and it seems it has become our tradition to watch fireworks from the road. Really, we are both ok with that. We have seen enough fireworks over the years that they no longer excite us. That does not mean we don't celebrate our nation. We are so blessed that God has placed us in a country where I can write a blog with no repercussion. We can worship on Sunday to the God of the Universe. We can share my faith without going to prison, and we have freedom to travel without government interference. 

As I was reading in Revelation chapter 13 today. I was reminded of our wonderful freedom because it is not always that case.

"He required everyone -- small and great, rich and poor, free and slave -- to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without the mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666." (Revelation 13: 16-18, NLT)

I know there is much written and theories about this number. There really is no mystery. The number represented NERO (the leader of Rome) and the Beast which is ROME. The number being placed on the hand or the forehead is a type of ANTI-SHEMA. The Shema was also written on the forehead as a symbol of ALLEGIANCE to GOD. the NUMBER 666 is a statement of allegiance to ROME.

Even though I love our nation, I will NOT, EVER, claim allegiance to our NATION. (I know, YES, I do repeat the pledge of allegiance.) When I say I won't claim allegiance to the USA, I will not place my nation above GOD, for any reason. Rome, the beast, and NERO, the leader, was to be worshipped as a god. Christians of the early church refused to worship ROME or NERO and were persecuted, martyred for their stand.

OUR ALLEGIANCE is to GOD and GOD-ALONE. We must be cautious about worshipping a political party, a political leader, a  political ideology, or anything in this life that replaces GOD. He alone is worthy of glory, honor, and praise. Read this from Revelation 14:

"And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world -- to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 'Fear God,' he shouted, 'Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit and judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.'" (Revelation 14:5-7, NLT)

GIVE GLORY TO GOD who will sit and judge the nations. He made all things and he is worthy of ALL OUR PRAISE. OUR ALLEGIANCE is ONLY TO THE LORD of ALL, and his SON, who saved us from death. He brings us life through our faith in him and he brings us hope for our future in eternity! The nations of this earth are only a "flash in the pan" of history. The KINGDOM of GOD is eternal and our SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, is reigning that KINGDOM now and forever. AMEN!