The Badlands

Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of Scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

Many years ago, I used to travel across the country to get to work. I frequently went through South Dakota, and stopped occasionally to check out some of their national and historic landmarks. About 60 miles east of Rapid City, you will find Badlands National Park, which I had the opportunity to visit a few times. It’s been claimed that the Badlands got its name because it was literally, a ‘bad land” to travel through. As the early settlers ventured west, most of the countryside that they had seen was flat and filled with wildlife and vegetation for both them and their animals. But when I saw the Badlands, I couldn’t imagine them trying to cross it in a covered wagon. It is extremely rugged, filled with jagged peaks and oddly formed rocks, with hardly any vegetation to be found. When it rains, the dry soil is swept away, creating huge impassable gullies across the landscape. It is an area completely unto itself, a place where you will find yourself completely surrounded by its harsh and bitter environment.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

But the Badlands are not found in South Dakota alone, because the more that you look, the more you will notice that they are all around us. Just like Noah before the flood, we are encircled by a sea of sin, beset by a world of iniquity,as we pass through this cold and perilous land.

Hebrews 12 ¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Beset means to be attacked on all sides, or troubled with problems persistently. As Jesus preached the gospel of God’s Kingdom, He was surrounded by people who hated Him, being constantly attacked and persecuted by a sinful world. The world believes a lie, and therefore will resist the truth. Many people stood in complete opposition to the things that He taught, contradicting not only God’s only begotten Son, but the Gospel of Truth.

“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:8

The world hates the truth, and fights against those who take a stand for it. 

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” John 7:7

John 15 ¹⁸ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

1 John 4 ⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The world doesn’t want to hear about God’s impending judgments against sin. They want to hear sweet and fluffy things, turning their ears from the facts… unto fables.

2 Timothy 4 ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Judas was chosen to be an Apostle, but he later turned on Christ. In the same way, people are going to betray each other, even from within the church. Some of your greatest enemies will be among your own household and relatives.

Matthew 10 ³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law ³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

When we are surrounded on all sides, hated and despised by the world, we must remember what Jesus endured.

1 Peter 4 ¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Like Noah, the Apostle Paul was a soldier of God, fighting on the front lines with the sword of God’s Word. He fought many battles, and often found himself completely surrounded and engaged by the enemies of Christ.

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:” 2 Corinthians 1:8

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” 2 Corinthians 4:8

2 Corinthians 7 ⁵ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

To inherit eternal life, we must endure tribulation which will happen when you choose the path of righteousness.

“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:4

The evil in this world will grow steadily worse, as we are encompassed by sin, just like Noah in the flood. It will persist right up until the return of our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy ¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

This is a dark and sinful place, and when you take a stand for what is right, persecution will inevitably happen. The world that you once found peaceful and calm will suddenly turn on you and surround you like a storm on the ocean. You don’t have to drive all the way out to South Dakota to find a brutal environment, just take a look around you. Maybe you will finally recognize that each of us are already standing in…..

…..The Badlands 

Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️

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