It is That Simple
with Larry Kutzler
The Simple Ideas of Profound Truths
Our Boast is About the Lord
The Prophet Jeremiah said, “If you are going to boast about anything, boast that you truly know Him, and understand that He is the Lord.” So practical and simple. This is why boasting about anything we have done, means little in comparison. We usually boast about things that will impress people, and we name drop as if for some reason this makes us more important. The Apostle James wrote about boasting too … he said that the poor can boast because God has honored them, and the rich can boast because God has humbled them. He goes on to say that even boasting about our plans is evil, rather than saying as the Lord wills. If we are to boast, our boast should be that God knows our name, and nothing can ever take us away from Him. It is That Simple.
Dishonest Religion
Journalist Tucker Carlson likes to create controversy … some good and some bad. However, his latest series has intrigued me simply by the title, ‘Religion, Big Business.’ Every journalist has a bent that, of course, sells the news. Yet for years, some religious non-profits have played fast and furious with their non-profit status. I have been associated with non-profits whose status is legal, but they operate as a private business. The governing boards are hand-picked family members, or puppets who will deliver decisions that best serve the founder. Some of these non-profits are scammers who will rake in millions of dollars … all in the name of Jesus, making people at the top very wealthy. This is a crime against the Kingdom … there is no defense for it Scripturally. Peddling the Gospel for gain is sin. Period. It is That Simple.
Communism
Communism is growing in popularity. This is hard for me to understand, since Communism, from its inception in 1917, has killed an estimated 110 million people. Communism is a totalitarian government that gives no freedom to the individual, the state owns everything … including the people. Socialism controls the productivity of the individual. Democratic Socialism is gaining popularity in America today … one step away from Communism. Look at the countries of the world who live under Socialism/Communism, and compare their standard of living to ours. These governments oppress people. Look at their track record, they don’t advocate for freedom … it’s about control. Matthew 25 tells us that the nations of the world will be judged, and God will settle the atrocities of all nations. Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from disappearing.” It is That Simple.
Burying the Investment
The Parable of the Talents is about the servant with the one talent. The first two servants got their reward because they invested what their master gave to them. It is this third servant whose lack of understanding of what the master wanted, is the intrigue. This third servant hid the talent he was given … because of the fear of losing what he had. This third servant could be describing many of us. We spend a great deal of time attending Church, receiving one talent, yet never investing it into the services or ministry that brings people into the Kingdom. Jesus used this example of investing money, to illustrate how investment works in His Kingdom. What God gives to us He expects a return from how we invest into the lives of others. Don’t bury what God gives you. It is That Simple.
Phone Addiction
The phone is the number one addiction in the world. Here is a new word for me … nomophobia, which is the anxiety or panic experienced when separated from your phone. We are told that Americans average 5.4 hours of screen time every day. I watch how people walk and watch, eat and watch, and have conversations all the while watching their phone. We have become addicts to the internet, and our unsatiable desire to know what’s happening … right now. This small device contains our road directions, our financial ability to buy, communicate, receive messages from anywhere in the world, and instantly get answers to questions. I realize that we spend more cumulative time with our phones than our loved ones, and certainly 10 times more time than talking to God or studying His Word. Conviction? You bet! It is That Simple.
Lying
Christians who lie break the Nineth Commandment deceive themselves. Everyone knows lying is wrong, but what makes lying worse for followers of Christ is that it hurts the Lord. Lying for most of us is about protecting oneself or family members, by influencing others with a better picture than what actually exists. What is damaging is that we do it with such frequency … we don’t realize we lie. To give an impression to others you know is not true, is a subtle way to misrepresent truth. The originator of the lie is Satan, and he knows it hurts God every time we fail to tell the truth. Lying erodes trust and destroys our witness for Christ. The reason people call Christian’s hypocrites, is usually about the lies they tell. Keep it real and keep it honest … don’t lie. It is That Simple.
The Warnings of Prophecy
It’s hard to remain silent about some issues that frighten people. One of those issues is Prophecy … most Biblical Prophecy about the Last Days is not positive. The Bible is clear … there will be a great falling away from the faith. The cause of that departure will be rebellion against God, and the proliferation of evil. Evil will institute a world system that will require an allegiance by all nations. That allegiance will provide safety and financial security, with buying and selling only being done through this allegiance. A world dictator known as the Anti-Christ, will oppose God and all who believe in Him. Today, evil is building this allegiance that will fulfill the Biblical Prophecy of the Last Days. Prophecy is not to frighten … it is a warning to prepare by strengthening your faith in God. It is That Simple.
Aging
Recently, I was with people I had not seen for some time. Aging is tough to experience when you see it up close. However, God is with us as we age. One of the biggest mistakes older people make is they stop fighting. Their mobility is crippled because they don’t move, their mental acuity is dulled because they stopped pursuing ideas, and they lose the desire to make a difference in their world. Abraham was called to leave his home at the age of 75. Moses was 80 years old when God called him to lead His people out of Egypt. Joshua and Caleb were 85 years old when they led the conquest of the promised land. The Apostle Paul was in prison and writing much of the New Testament in his 60s. Age well … exploits for God are not age restrictive. (Psalm 92:12-14) It is That Simple.
Living in Courage
It takes courage to live. It starts at birth, and parents must have courage to raise children. You must have courage to go to work every day, pay bills with money often not in the bank. It takes courage to be moral in an immoral society. It takes courage to reject lies you hear. It takes courage to stand for the truth. It takes courage to stay married in an age of unfaithfulness. It takes courage not to dominate the conversations to be the center of attention. It takes courage to be silent in the face of criticism. It takes courage not to give in. It takes courage to quit fighting as we age, knowing there is more in life to conquer. It takes courage to believe God over the culture. It takes courage to be a witness for His Name’s sake. Our courage comes from God … live in it today. It is That Simple.