Deuteronomy 9:24 - KJV - "Ye have been rebellious against the LORD
from the day that I knew you."
Romans 6:13 - KJV - "13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments
of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
Enron....and rebellion. Let me say right up front that I realize Enron is a business, and NOT a ministry. I also understand that any ministry or business is only as good as those who operate it. That brings me to my point for today. If in your life you obey God, live according to His plan and purpose, God will bless you. If you rebel against God, and live in ways that are opposed to His plan and purpose, God will NOT bless you. This is the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. If we sow righteousness, we will reap righteousness. If we sow wickedness, we will reap wickedness. This is true in our own personal lives, as well as in the life of an organization like Enron.
In a recent British publication the following story emerged. "Enron was a company in love with itself. Office affairs were rampant, divorce among senior executives an epidemic, and stories of couples steaming up glass-walled offices after late-night meetings were the talk of Houston. It was insane," says a former energy trader, soothing her financial injuries with a margarita. There were no rules for people, even in our personal lives. Everything was about the company and everything was supposed to be on the edge - sex, money, all of it."
I realize that many factors led to the downfall of Enron. I also realize that many innocent, well intentioned people have been hurt by this collapse. To try and isolate any single event and point to that as the reason for the collapse is an oversimplification of the problem. However, I can assure you of this. God will not be mocked. I don't doubt for a second there were many God-fearing, wonderful Christian people involved with this organization. Whatever sins were being committed at Enron are committed daily in many companies all over the world. However, the fact is, God chose to allow THIS companies transgressions to be exposed, and allowed the sins of THIS company to come to light to show the world that God will NOT BE MOCKED! You simply can not live in rebellion to God and get away with it.
The natural question of course is, "why Enron when others are doing the same thing?" It is the same question Godly people ask when a neighbor in clear rebellion seems to prosper while they struggle. The fact is we will ALL be judged one day. Even though we may seem to "get away with it" here on earth, God will be the final judge and have the final word. We will be held accountable. God will from time to time expose the sins of the wicked for all to see, as a warning to those living in rebellion to repent and get their lives in line with His Word. When we do see God's wrath, it is not only an act of judgment, but a warning sign for others to get their lives in line with how He has called us to live.
Let me also add, that those who appear to be "getting away with it", really aren't. They live miserable lives with no real peace, no real joy. YOU CAN NOT LIVE IN REBELLION TO GOD AND NOT SUFFER CONSEQUENCES, NOW AND LATER!!! Read the story of the Prodigal Son. Some may think he "got away with it", but we read, he didn't. The son who honored his father was blessed beyond his ability to see it. He didn't have to go through the consequences of rebelling, and he actually took for granted the blessing of peace and joy he had in his obedience.
The greatest example of Enron for businesses and each one of us individually is that we can not live in rebellion to God and get away with it. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE. NOT GETTING CAUGHT TODAY DOES NOT MAKE IT OK!!! In the Bible we read of Kingdoms that flourished, but were full of sin. God chose at times to bring them down to show His people that He would not be mocked. We have many examples in recent history of businesses, and sadly ministries, that were very large by the world's standards. But once they quit honoring God, He chose to bring them down Overnight in many cases. Your life is no different than Enron. If you live your life in rebellion to God, He can, and will, bring you to your knees.
I love you and care about you so much. God loves you! If you are living in rebellion to Him today, don't wait until you hit bottom You don't have to be like Enron and be publicly destroyed. You don't have to do as I did and wait until God brings you to your knees. Repent today. Ask God to forgive you today. Change your course today!!!! God is waiting for you with open arms. He is a forgiving God. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, God forgives us and cleanses us. Trust His Word. The Bible also says that God not only forgives, but forgets. You can move past your sin today, on your own, or you can wait until God forces you to deal with it. The choice is yours. This word is a wake up call to YOU today. Don't wait like Enron until you have been destroyed to call out to God. Call out to Him today! IT IS NO ACCIDENT GOD HAD YOU READ THESE WORDS THIS VERY MOMENT. I am here for you, and praying for you.
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
***May everyone that has been affected by the Enron collapse the recent fall
of WorldCom, and the overall loss of hundreds of millions in people's 401k's
and Mutual Funds, find your peace and hope during these difficult times in Jesus
Christ. He is the one who can calm the storms. May HIS presence be very real
in your life at this time. Nothing happens without a purpose, though we often
never know what that purpose is. If nothing else, may it draw you into a deeper
and more committed relationship with Him. HE is our source of hope and joy.
GOD KNOWS YOUR NEEDS AND WILL SUPPLY THEM!