Sun, Nov 8th - 10:30PM
This World Will Not Last Forever The news of late, coming to us by way of various news media, has some alarming reports. World leaders, not dumb preachers, are more and more using terms like a common currency and a world government. It is really surprising how so many politicians, newscasters, blogs, and people in the general public are accepting this as good news. But is this good news or is it prophetic reality? Secular world leaders, who lends support to the one-world concept, aren’t interested in Biblical doomsday predictions. They envision a world where a single governing system dictates human affairs and prevents troubling world conflicts, a world in which there are no monetary class distinctions, where government takes care of everything. In this kind of world, the little guy, you and me, does all the work while the big hogs eat the prime foods and live the life of Riley! But isn’t this the future which has been preached a million times over by the church throughout the years? The message has been and is clear, there is coming an Antichrist, one who opposes the truth of God and His Word, who will lead the world into chaos. Government control of the affairs of the human race will shine bright for a season, but that season will end and the torments of an everlasting Hell will burn without end of days. Let’s see what God’s Word has to say about this globe upon which we live. Because of the lack of space, I want to look only at what Peter has written in his second letter. He writes about some things the early church needed to hear. First, Peter wrote, ". . .that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?"(3:3-4). He then wrote, "For this they willfully forget; that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water"(v. 5). Did you get that? The heavens and the earth were created by the word of God! Then Peter warned that ". . . the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"(v. 7). The world we know today isn’t going to be controlled forever by ungodly people. The world is headed for the day of the judgement of God Almighty. Peter issues another warning, so please pay attention to what he writes. In verse 9 we read, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." Even though the future for Christians living on the earth might not be the most promising, they could be living in the most exciting days of the world’s history. Peter reminds everyone that with God one day is as a thousand years and that a thousand years is as just a day. There is no past time for God nor is there a future time with God. He is always in the His present moment! Although the scoffers mock at the preaching of a second coming, of a predicted one world government, one world currency, and a one world church, God’s promise of such, although delayed according to man’s calendar, will be just on time when these events appear. One of these day, perhaps soon, the Lord will return in the air and gather all believers, both dead and alive, unto Himself. Don’t spend your time debating the non-believer, spend your time preparing for the coming of the upper-taker, Jesus Christ Himself. There is someone, somewhere in your life who can give you directions to the cross and therefore to the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Prophesy is being fulfilled before our eyes, don’t delay your preparation.
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Nov 2nd - 12:19AM
Moving From Crib Food To Maturing Food When trying times face mature individuals, they somehow survive. When troubles come to the immature, they more often than not crash. It is true in the secular world and in spiritual lives as well. That is why the Holy Spirit had writers of the Bible include scripture verses encouraging all believers to grow toward spiritual maturity. The writer to the Hebrews calls believers, who should be mature enough to teach, back to the crib. Here are his words: "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food"(5:11-12 NAS). Then in verse 14, the writer gives the reason why Christians must grow into spiritual maturity — "to discern good and evil". If born again believers will just take God’s Word as His inspired message to people of faith and ingest that word into the soul, spiritual growth will occur. Those individuals who spend quality time in the Word of God on a daily basis will learn to face life’s problems victoriously. They will learn, through Bible study, how to live their lives according to a Biblical viewpoint rather than relying upon human viewpoint to guide their ethics. Back-sliding and unfaithfulness begins when believers neglect the Word of God, along with prayer of course, in their lives. They become less sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s warning signs. They fail to become the witness for Jesus He desires from each one who has come to Him in faith. The facts are before all of mankind. Troubling times comes to us all. Sickness, job loses, marriage difficulties, untimely death of loved ones, and the list could go on into infinity. Besides the troubles faced by us all, there are temptations which lure God’s people away from righteous living. That is when all of those Bible study hours comes into power. Decisions will be made on the basis of what is learned through the scriptures. If Christians fail to learn the Word of God, then when decision making situations are faced, the immature Christian won’t know how he or she should react. Not only is Bible study important for one’s own spiritual growth, the study of God’s Word touches others in need through us. As an illustration, I remember back in 1963 when I spent five weeks in the University Hospital in Jackson as the result of a malfunctioning thyroid. During those days of not knowing if my problem would be discovered or if I would ever get out of the hospital, individuals who had learned Christian sympathy and encouragement from the scriptures kept me hopeful with their words of encouragement and copied devotions which I received in the mail. Even so, you and I can learn that same tenderness toward others in need and share encouragement with them. Hopefully, you the reader, have already discovered the importance of daily Bible study for your life. But if not, here is an encouragement for you to set aside quality quiet time with our Lord. Get into the Bible and tackle the difficult scriptures as well as walk through the cool waters of your salvation experience. But make sure you grow in spiritual maturity by staying in the scriptures. Just as the book of Hebrews reminds us, "let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God"(6:1). In other words, don’t just study the things you already know, those first things learned as a young Christian, leave that behind and take on some "solid" spiritual food. That’s the challenge for all of us. So, let’s get on with by-passing spiritual milk and take in "solid food" for our spiritual souls.
Comment (0)
|
Name: Odus Jackson
