Your Priorities Are More Important Than You May Think 

       By Lea Sylvester



We are living in 2010. This means that God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has given mankind, his creation, well enough time to make choices regarding how he will or will not honor Him. If men will or will not acknowledge Him. If mankind does or does not live by His word.

As it was foretold by Daniel, the prophet, God does have a plan. He has had one from the very beginning. Not from the time of Adam's sin, but from before God ever created the universe. God tells us time and again in His word that he knew the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. Why wouldn't our Heavenly Father know ALL THINGS?

Daniel was blessed by God and was a source of information for King Nebuchadnezzar, who highly regarded Daniel. But God also gave Daniel information for our generation, and generations preceding us about what was and is to come. Some of his prophecies have been fulfilled, some remain to be fulfilled.

Being concerned about those things that had been revealed to Him, Daniel was in intense prayer about the fate of his people when he was, in fact, given God's timeline. He was told about the end times, about the antichrist, about the things that would befall the Nation of Israel.

Daniel 12:5 "Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (6) And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? (7) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (8) And I heard, but I understood not; then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? (9) And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (10) Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (11) And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (13) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of days."

This is God explicitly  giving His plans for His people. God is revealing much to His believers through the Holy Spirit. We are quickly approaching the last week of seven which is a part of what God revealed to Daniel. The "Age of Grace" is quickly closing. World events are rapidly aligning with Bible prophecy and even those who do not believe in God, are being forced to observe that this is happening. These are all a part of prophecy being fulfilled.

Choose your priorities carefully. Those of us who live in the United States of America see that our government is turning its back on the Nation of Israel. Our country will face the wrath of Almighty God for this. We were once a blessed nation. Blessed of God. No more. Wickedness prevails and seems unnoticed, unseen by the majority of citizens. Christians go to churches on Sundays and then live the way they choose the rest of the week. This is not obedience to God. Even the recent health care legislation will force Christians to stand, or give in. Using this recent legislation and the debate surrounding it is a good way to show how we must obey God, in word and deed.

Every little thing we do in our lives should be done within the will of our Heavenly Father. Something as small as a health insurance policy is an example. Much has been made of the federal government funding abortions, which is included in that legislation. But haven't our dollars been going for this purpose all along? Did anyone stop to think of this? Or, did they choose to ignore God's word? Did we just not "think about it?"

Whether you may realize it or not, when you choose to participate in a health insurance plan, you are agreeing that the premiums for your policy can be used to pay for anything your insurance company covers in any of its policies. Your health insurance can actually be working against the faith you hold dear.

You may be working and praying for abortion to end, but supporting other policyholders' abortions and use of abortifacient drugs by helping pay for them with your health insurance premiums. You may be encouraging others to trust in Jesus Christ and turn away from the dangers of living in disobedience to Him. At the same time, the policies offered by your health insurance company may be encouraging disobedience to Jesus Christ by agreeing, in advance, to cover the consequences of sexual promiscuity, drug or alcohol abuse, or other unbiblical practices.

Christians should certainly have compassion for those who are suffering health problems because of unbiblical living. However, our help should be given in a way that encourages obedience to Jesus Christ, not through business agreements that agree ahead of time to support unbiblical practices and their consequences.

Lest any reader of this commentary think I may be taking my "religion" too far, think again. What does God say about how we are to live? Are we really to support unbeliever's sinful ways? Are we to do business with unbelievers? NO, we are not. The Bible tells us not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" and this means everything.

The time is coming when we all will either stand up for Jesus Christ or we will deny him. Prepare yourself, Christian. What will you do?