World Wide Road Rage!

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?   -  Psalm 2:1

It seems like people everywhere today are angry and they are showing forth their anger with violence.

We see it everywhere we look.  It's all over the news, in all corners of the globe.  People are outraged, and ready to fight.  Their tempers are flaring, and they are looking for any excuse to act upon that anger.  Just look at the Middle East, where tensions are rising.  Turn your eyes on the Muslim world as it's in revolt, overthrowing its leaders and picketing globally with signs like, "Behead all those who speak against our prophet." Take a peak at Europe where economic downfall is certain and people know it and are rioting.  Open your window and look outside in almost any big city in the United States and you'll no doubt see an angry mob of people pillaging and looting.  You'll also see the Occupy movement screaming and chanting while defacating on police cars.  Take a gander over at the Pacific and you'll find that tensions are rising between Japan and China about some islands in the Pacific, and they talking about going to war over it. Hatred, anger, and indignation are everywhere.  Their hearts are filled with violence and they long to indulge in hurting one another!

 

We are living in a time unlike any other in history, in which the whole world is becoming more and more outraged over something.  They no longer are "peaceful" nor "tolerant."  Rather they are angry as Hell, and don't care if others know it.  They are so upset, they are about to burst, wanting desperately to take out their pent-up anger on others.  It's like they are just looking for an excuse (any excuse) to channel that anger on someone else.  It's almost like there is world-wide "Road Rage."  Why is this?

 

As usual, the Bible has the answer.  And it's only there that we see not only the reason why things are the way they are, but the root of the problem itself, the dirty heart of man, and his hatred towards God. 

 

In the book of 2 Timothy, we are told of the "peril" that would come in these, the last days.  And it's there we read the following:

 

 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Is this not exactly what we are seeing today?  Everywhere there are proud, self-conceited, boastful, blasphemers, who are rebellious and ungodly.  Their root problem is they are unthankful, and because of this they don't care about themselves or others.  They no affection for others (no love, only hate), and they are fierce in their ways.  Why?  Because they don't love God!

 

Jesus said it best in Matthew 24:12... "...because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." 

 

This is the world we live in.  No love for others, only love for one's self.  And this love for one's self denegrates into absolute hatred for everyone else.  Hence, the "road rage" mentality of "I hate you! Get out of my way! Me first, you next, maybe!"

 

So this answers the WHY there is so much world-wide Road Rage.  It also answers the WHEN, as we are clearly in the last days.  But one thing is lacking.  That is, WHERE does this come from?

 

I've briefly alluded to this already.  Clearly it comes from the iniquity of the human heart.  Men are Sinners, and because of this, they sin.  Hate comes from a dirty heart.  Anger comes from a selfish heart.  Violence comes from a degenerate heart that knows no self-restraint.

 

But it's more than just this.  As we read the scriptures, we know that there is a "prince and power of the air."  His name is Satan, and he desires to rule the world.  And, as we read the Bible, we find that he's busy trying to build his own kingdom, his own "New World Order." 

 

And as we read more verses, we find that this rage isn't just man against man, (although that's part of it), but this rage is against God himself.

 

In 2 Kings 19:27, we read, "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy RAGE against me."

 

Here God in context is speaking to Israel, and he says that they rage against him.  They were backslidden and wanted nothing of God.  Thus, they were angry, as they looked at God as someone who was trying to spoil their fun, and just wanted to tell them they were doing wrong all the time.  They wanted no restraints.  They desired to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, with no one to tell them they were wrong!  (Sound like those today?  You bet it does!)

 

This world-wide rage we see today is deeper than just man against man, gender against gender, race against race, country against country, religion against religion.  It is in all actuality man raging against God!

Why?  Because men are of their father the devil, and because Satan hates God, his seed does as well.

Proverbs 6:34 sheds some light on the real reason for man's rage.  It says, "For JEALOUSY is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance."

 

Most men are angry, hateful, and outright haughty because they are JEALOUS of others.  This is why they rage.  They want what others have!  It's greed, plain and simple.

 

When we study Satan in the scriptures we find that this is what he wanted.  He wanted to overthrow God and he tried to do it, but he was cast out.  He raged against God because he was jealous of him, wanting his power, his authority, his throne.  Because he didn't get it, he still rages today, loving death, destruction, and war.  In his rage he begats others like himself and delights in their rage against others.  This is the reason there is so much "rage" in the world today.  It's satanic!

 

Rage comes from being evil.  The more evil one is, the more he rages!  Proverbs 14:16 makes this very clear:  "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."

 

Evil is what makes men rage.  The more they rage, the more evil they must be!  It's that simple.  So, this world-wide "road rage" is nothing short of showing the world-wide epidemic of an influx of sinfulness.

 

Even though we see world-wide rage today increasing, man's rage won't go on too much longer.  It will have to end soon.  According to the Bible, God will allow Satan to gain the entire world and lead it into a path of even more world-wide rage.  Yet, God said that this was all part of his plan.  He's allowing all this to happen for one reason and one reason alone.  It's so that he might get them together so that he might take HIS RAGE out on the sinful at the battle of Armageddon. 

 

God said in Isaidh 37:28, "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me." 

 

God knows who the heathen are, why they are made, and where their rage will take them.  And he will be ready for them.  For we read in Zephaniah 3:8: "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy."

Those who know the Bible know that man's rage will eventually lead to man's downfall!  They rage against God, against righteousness, and against God's chosen people, the Jews.  This will lead them to battle at Armageddon, a predetermined place, in which when they all arrive, God will be the one who's jealous and angry!  And he will be justified in taking his indignation out one sin, sinners, and Satan. 

 

So for all the evil, anger, hate, and rage we see in the world today, I'm not discouraged.  I'm encouraged.  It means we are in the last days.  Jesus is coming soon, and when he comes, he'll be the Victor!  He will destroy his enemies, and then will come the time of 1000 years of world peace, of which the book of Revelation prophecies.  Won't that be nice?

 

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

 

I close with the words of King David in the Psalms, in which he prays...

 

"Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded."    

- Psalms 7:6