Habakkuk 1:1-5
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!”And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds. “Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.
The key to understanding the book of Habakkuk is understanding his heartbreak over injustice, but even more so his complete and utter disappointment in how he and the people of God so throughly adapted to the carnal culture of their day and abandoned the principles of God. That’s the undercurrent that makes this book work. They’d become so worldly and compliant in the cultural dictates of their time that they were indistinguishable from unbelievers. Anyone can cry over injustice; but when you realize your indifference to it, that’s another thing all together. That is a frightening thought because in many ways I see us in the same position. So please forgive me this morning, but I’m having a Habakkuk moment.
I’ll be the first to admit that the lure of carnality is powerful and persuasive. It’s unavoidable and pervasive. Think about it. Everything we do and everything we’ve learned up to now supports our world view and cultural biases. Our education system, homes, community, government, and even entertainment are structured to support modern culturalism. We aren’t taught countercultural values and principles. Remember, counterculturist are the enemies of status-quo. We are taught, compelled, driven and even forced in many cases to get in line with mainstream ideology, or suffer the consequences.
So I have to ask, have we practiced being worldly, carnal minded & flesh-friendly so long that we’ve perfected conformity? Have we settled in that “sweet spot” right in the middle of hot and cold so long that we actually now embody the definition of lukewarm. Lukewarm and satisfied. I’m just saying! We gather every week for service, but rarely talk about serving. Have we placed degreed folk in the pulpit over anointed preachers for Christ? Are we more interested in programming, aesthetics, number of folk in the pews, and popularity than we are open to the interruption of tarrying with new souls, baptizing, fighting demonic influences and freeing people from sin? Where are we right now saints of God?
In essence Habakkuk was asking the same question. And God answered him with a statement that ought to resonate with us all. The just shall live by faith. In other words, no matter how bad things look, God wants some folk with the audacity to believe anyway.
As much as we sometimes feel we are responsible for the actions of other, we are not. We preach and teach, pray and fast, but folk must make a decision for themselves. And when they (we) don’t, God will bring whatever he needs to bring to get his creation in line. Often the consequences are grave and difficult. But those of us that know God’s character, kindness, love and compassion also know that chastening and correction are tools of grace and mercy. Tools that God employs to save our souls from damnation. So, even in the worst of times, God is still good.
Okay, back to my Habakkuk moment. After soliciting God for answers, Habakkuk was given a new assignment. When you earnestly come before God, He will answer you, but you will most certainly leave with an assignment. Habakkuk completed his original task as watchman on the wall. He watched, saw, inquired and expressed his views. But in doing so God gave him a new challenge. God instructed him to write the vision in a manner others interested in following God’s will could readily understand. Because what they would be confronted with would be beyond their cultural comprehension.
Saints of God, I maintain the time is coming, and may be here now, when culture is going to fail us. That’s education, money, religion, family, friends and government. Everything and anything we’ve placed significant value in will eventually fail us. But in the words of the prophet, the just shall live by faith. Do you have the audacity to believe?
God Bless
