"The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present ... A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise." ~The Prince by Machiavelli,1513 ~ |
Whether it is a prince, a politician, or a pontiff, promise-keeping is a thing of the past. The erosion of character and the evisceration of integrity is the primary plague in many leaders, both social and spiritual. This has to do with principles of morality and the practice of ethics. Christians are to operate by an ethic that is tied to our view of eschatology. We are to live today in light of tomorrow. We are to live with the end in mind. As believers in Jesus Christ each of us will one day appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (The Bema Seat - 2 Cor 5:9-10, Rom 14:10) All non-believers will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment to discover the severity of their judgment in Hell. (Rev 20:11) All believers will stand before the Bema Seat to discover their reward for their faithful service to King Jesus. In light of this reality Christians are to follow the command of the Apostle Peter as he exhorts his first-century audience and us as well; “And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth…” (I Peter 1:17) Our view of eschatology and the future must impact our ethics for today. We must live today in light of tomorrow. And always remember; the promise of Jesus will never be broken. (Matt 5:18) Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred |