|
 It
is widely known that terrorists share a similar
psychological profile. One trait they commonly
share is a faulty belief system. They not only
possess radical religious beliefs, but believe
that through tactics of fear they can manipulate
the will of their enemies, preventing them from
accomplishing their goals. Terrorists believe
they are justified in using any means to change
society into something agreeable with their own
radical beliefs.
Terrorism is defined as a "systematic covert
warfare to produce terror for political coercion"
(Merriam-Webster). It can also be defined as,
"the planned, organized use of fear as a
weapon." We often believe that the opposite
of love is hate, but as seen in terrorist organizations,
hate and fear, although different from each other,
are both in opposition to love, mercy and forgiveness.
Fear and hate are the tools of the devil. Scripture
says, "For we are not fighting against people
made of flesh and blood, but against the evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against
those mighty powers of darknesws who rule this
world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly
realm" (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).
God has provided a remedy to terrorism for Christians
who are born-again by the Holy Spirit. "For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of
power and of love and of a sound mind" (2
Timothy 1:7 NKJV). We have the love of God in
our lives, which empowers us. "There is no
fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment, but he who fears
has not been made perfect in love" (1 John
4:18 NKJV).
Charles Manson: The Terrorist
We've heard the demonic purpose for the Manson
murders: to kick off a chaotic race war with "Helter
Skelter." Manson believed the African Americans
would be blamed for these crimes and would rise
up against the whites. He believed he would end
up ruling society through the African American
race, as they would look to him for guidance and
answers. This idea seems ridiculous, but Manson
believed it, and he was able to convince others
to embrace these strange beliefs. He deceived
his followers and took captive their thoughts
and behavior, by giving them something to better
to believe in. He could then use them to commit
horrible crimes designed to bring a supposed fear,
causing a change in society.
Today, Manson is believed by many to be a white
supremacist. To the contrary, in the '60s he was
anti-white. It has been falsely reported that
Charles Manson was driven by his hatred for the
Jews. He has been compared to Hitler, having carved
a swastika upon his forehead. In reality, Manson
hated society in general, who he called 'whitey'.
He blamed society for all his failures. His plan
had nothing to do with the Jews specifically.
His tactics of fear was a plan to poison the
Los Angeles water supply with belladonna plants,
which contain strychnine. These poisonous plants
grew abundantly in the hills around the city.
His "family" was to harvest thousands
of these plants, chop them up, boil them to remove
their poison and use the poison to pollute the
city water system. The city water tanks could
be seen in the distance. He spoke of polluting
lakes and aquaducts. His plans did not seem foolish
or impossible to us.
Manson was consumed with the idea of bringing
society to its knees through fear, similar to
the way terrorists work today. He wanted to kill
and destroy society as he saw it. He wanted to
be the god of all mankind, teaching them how to
train their children and bring forth a society
filled with his concept of love.
Middle Eastern Terrorism
The terrorists in the Middle East are, for the
most part children, deceived by their
elders. They are either born into, or join a belief
system of fear where the infidel, anyone who does
not believe as they do, is to be eliminated. They
have not experienced God, Who loves all His creation,
but rather a false god who hates everyone but
them. They grow up isolated, being programmed
with anger and hatred for the Jews. They have
nothing to live for, with no future. They are
without hope, having no expectation of anything
good happening except a false promise of a paradise
to come. They are promised 70 virgins in paradise
if they will lay down their lives for the struggle
against the infidel. They are consumed with jealously
as they see the Jews living in riches and going
on European vacations, while they are not able
to even travel outside their neighborhood.
Terrorists accept a system of religious beliefs
so strongly that they are willing to die for their
cause. Whether Middle Eastern terrorists or the
"Manson Family", they take on the anger
of their leaders and become willing to lay down
their lives. The "Manson Family" was
isolated from society, with nothing to live for
-- no future, but what Manson promised. They were
jealous of the society around them. Charles Manson
gave them a promise of paradise, free love and
even a tree with "12 various fruits."
There is a common theme - the promise of a life
in paradise, but in reality the end is death,
for themselves and their many victims. It is not
a coincidence that terrorist groups throughout
the world are very similar in the promises they
profess.
A Spiritual Battle
There is a spiritual battle for the minds of
mankind going on in the world. "For as a
man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs
23:7). This battle has been raging since the Garden
of Eden, where man believed the lies of Satan,
leading to sin and death, fear and lust, causing
him to hide from God in unbelief.
The stronghold of unbelief, set up in the minds
of men and women all over the world, must be judged
for what it is -- unrighteousness. "we use
God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons,
to knock down the Devil's strongholds" (2
Corinthians 10:4 NLT). In these last days, this
war between good and evil is coming to a close.
Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent
me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life"
(John 5:24 NKJV). We must take God at his Word,
receive His promise of loving kindness, and cast
down all beliefs that are contrary to the knowledge
of the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The battle is between the kingdom of darkness
and the kingdom of God. The prince of the power
of the air, the adversary, the oppressor, the
thief, the accuser of the brethren, the deceiver,
the destroyer, the tempter, the defamer and the
father of lies is the devil, the chief terrorist.
He rules with fear. He is anti-christ, who has
always been an enemy not only to the Christian
and Jews, but to all mankind. This terrorist war
against the will of God has been going on since
Lucifer rebelled against God in heaven (Isaiah
14; Ezekiel 28).
Before the foundation of the world, our Heavenly
Father planned to deliver us from this present
evil world. "Long ago, even before he made
the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ
to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His
unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into
his own family by bringing us to himself through
Jesus Christ, and this gave him great pleasure"
(Ephesians 1:4,5 NLT). God saw it all in advance:
man's fall into sin, his inability to rescue himself
from sin's penalty and his need for divine help
to be saved.
Regardless of wars past or the wars to come,
Jesus Christ comes forth as the final authority
of righteousness and judgment. The first time
He came to the Earth, He grew up a "...child,
and strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke
2:40). He was God in the flesh, man's substitute
on the cross, who took upon Himself the penalty
for the sins of all mankind, even for the terrorist.
"For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him will not perish but have eternal life"
(John 3:16 NLT). He was buried and rose from the
dead to provide resurrection life to a lost and
dying world.
The Plan For Victory
The Lord's plan is to take this crooked and perverse
world and straighten it out with the righteousness
of His Son. From the beginning of time, He set
in motion His plan to harvest the world by planting
a seed. Through the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ,
He would redeem the world from sin, and the Spirit
would bring life because of Christ's righteousness.
We share in Christ's inheritance because He is
the promised seed Who comes to live through the
Holy Spirit in those who believe. His plan demands
repentance, that is to have a change of heart
by turning from the sin of unbelief towards God,
for His righteousness to reign in our lives.
In Israel, young terrorists are convinced to
leave their homes with bombs strapped on their
body. Their beliefs create a terrorist stronghold.
Several of these terrorists have
had a change of heart before carrying out their
wicked deeds. While on the way to carry out a
suicide bombing in a restaurant or on a bus, they
awake to a new reality of Israeli children eating,
drinking and living a better life, which sparks
hope of a better life for them too.
We also have a stronghold in our minds to do
what is evil and ungodly because of Adam's sin,
which passed upon all mankind (Romans 5:12-17).
We need a change of heart, by admitting to God
our sin of unbelief. Many times I wished I had
changed my mind on the way to destroying my victims,
but my heart was set to prove myself to man, without
regards to human life, not even my own. What if
for a moment my eyes were opened to the humanity
of those I was about to destroy? How much better
it would have been if I had seen that there was
a better way for me and had turned away, choosing
life instead.
Maybe your mind is set towards destruction? Do
you need a change of heart? Is there a better
life for you? One does not have to be a terrorist
or a murderer to need a change of heart. Maybe
you are about to destroy your family with a divorce,
or murder a child through an abortion? Everyone
who has not received Christ is on the road to
destruction in some way. The Lord has a wonderful
plan and new direction for all of us. The first
time he came to take your judgment on the cross,
but the second time he comes, if you have not
received Jesus and His gift of righteousness,
you will have to take your own judgment. The next
time he will not be coming to save, but to judge
the entire world.
The Prophet Jeremiah says, "Let not the
wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the right
man glory in his riches; But let him that glorieth
glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth
me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for
in these things I delight, saith the LORD"
(9:23,24 KJV).
Time To Overcome Terrorism
It is time for all mankind everywhere to repent
of their delusional mind set, whatever it is.
God promises a life with Him forever in heaven,
but we must trust the finished work of Christ
on the cross. Won't you receive him today? He
is speaking to you right now, saying, "Come
to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble
and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give
you is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).
You can accept Jesus now by praying in faith:
"Lord Jesus, I need you in my life, I believe
that You are the Son of God, that you died on
the cross for me and rose from the dead. Please
forgive me my sins and create a clean heart in
me. Renew my spirit so that I can hear Your voice.
I accept You as my Savior! You are my Lord! You
are my Righteousness!"
Now begin to thank God for His plan for your
life. As you come to know your God and His Son
Jesus Christ, righteousness, peace and joy will
arise in your heart. There is power in knowing
that you are right with God, as all your past
comes under the blood of Christ. We can now rejoice
in knowing that Jesus was manifest to destroy
the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Today is
the best day of your life. Live it to the fullest
by placing Jesus first throughout your day. He
is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
|
