Several years ago, my wife and I were privileged to take a trip to Israel.  In preparation for the trip, I purchased a nice SLR camera to enable us to share slides of the Land of the Bible with our church family and friends back home.  It was then I learned some of the basics of amateur photography.  One of the first lessons was how to focus the camera properly on the subject, and then to hold it steadily so the subject would not be blurred in my picture.  I learned quickly that when I failed in either of these fundamental principles, no matter what else I did, the image would be a poor representation of the place where Jesus ministered 2000 years ago.

  After our trip, it dawned on me how my recent experience with the camera made a perfect analogy for presenting Christ to others in my day to day life.  In my analogy Christ Himself is the subject upon which I must focus, and my life, like the film in my camera, if developed properly, will bear His image.  “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,… (Romans 8:29)”

  The same two fundamental principles apply: Unless I keep Christ constantly in focus, and refuse to allow myself to become unstable (shaky), while I am being exposed to Him in my daily walk, my life will not become a clear representation of Christ.  Also, in order for my character to be the perfect image of His character, the ungodliness that was part of my life before I met Christ must be put off, so that I can, “…put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created [me]: (Colossians 3:10)”

  The process, therefore, must begin in my own mind and heart.  Paul told the Roman believers, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)”  Paul encouraged the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)” 

  In Genesis 12, God chose a man, Abram, and issued three covenantal promises to him: a land for his descendants, a son with successive generations of posterity (though his wife was barren), and a blessing (redemption).  This was the beginning of the Hebrew nation of Israel.  They are God’s covenant people through which He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for their sins, and for the sins of the world.  The Bible is the story of this redemption.

  Israel has had a rich history, filled with pitfalls and literal mountain top experiences.  They have suffered in times of rebellion and flourished in times of repentance and obedience.  And God is not yet through with Israel; it has a bright future, foretold explicitly in the prophetic Scriptures.

  Soon, there will be a time of Great Tribulation that will humble the nation of Israel and cause a remnant to turn to God and accept Jesus as their Messiah.  Nineteen apocalyptic events, described in Revelation 4-16, will get the job done. At the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus will return to fulfill His promise to reign over Israel for 1000 years as King of kings (the Millennium).  

 While the end time events will be visible and predictable once they begin, until then we see only shadows of things to come:

Apostasy = Falling away from the body of truth delivered to us by God. (the Bible)  1Timothy 4:1; 2Thessalonians 2:2-4
False Deliverers = People claiming to be sent from God. Matthew 24:5
Wars and Rumors of Wars = Nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Matthew 24:6-7a
Famine, Pestilence (plagues, pandemics), Earthquakes = Matthew 24:7b
Persecutions = Matthew 24:9; 2Timothy 3:12

These and many other shadows loom on the horizon even now, and will become increasingly ominous until the end.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:8-9).”  You Need Jesus Christ!

  Perhaps you have noticed, we live in a day in which the spiritual battle between good and evil is raging.  For those of us who know the history recorded in the Bible, our minds are drawn to Exodus 32.  Israel had just been delivered from 430 years of bondage in Egypt, and Moses had been sent by God to lead them out.  Miraculously, God brought his millions to the foot of Mount Sinai where He would present His laws to Moses, but while Moses was on the mountain, many rebelled and engaged in idolatry and immorality.

  When Moses returned, as he approached the camp he could hear their jubilation below and cried out, “…Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. (Exodus 32:26)”  Many died that day as a result of their rebellion.

  While we are not Israel, and God’s instruction to His people today is not the same as in those days, there is a similar rebellion taking place today, as nations continue to fall away from the divine principles that insure life and peace.  In the fray, we are called to be warriors, not to fight a physical battle, but spiritual—to contend for truth and right.  So, we say with the songwriter…

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

 It would probably be unsettling to know how many dollars have been wasted by people in a hurry, how many lives have been lost, how many homes destroyed, and how many dreadful emotions unwittingly unleashed.  Hurry at the wrong time can be quite devastating.  But at the same time, because of hurry, some have become rich, lives have been saved, homes have been preserved, and negative emotions have been avoided.  So, the point is, one must know when to hurry, and when to pull back on the reins.

    The Bible, the Word of God, gives several examples of things that should not be done hurriedly.  e.g. In the book of Acts, the Bereans were commended for not hurriedly accepting anything as truth, without first confirming it in the Scriptures. “These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)”

  In his first letter to Timothy, Paul instructs his young liaison not to move too quickly in ordaining a man to the ministry, because, in doing so, he would both condone, and become accomplice to, the sins of the man he appoints.  “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. (1Timothy 5:22)”

  Biblical examples also abound, of things that must be hurried, because time is of an essence.  By far, the most important of these time sensitive issues is one’s preparation for life beyond the grave.  (Human beings, unlike all other living creatures, were created with eternal living souls.) “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)”  Are you ready?  Which resurrection will you be a part of?

  “Getting ready” means to receive God’s forgiveness, by faith in Jesus Christ, who paid your sin’s penalty with His own blood. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)”

  This announcement is almost always a cause for rejoicing: when a loved one is unearthed after a mining disaster, or a child is rescued out of a storm drain after a torrential rain, or when you rush to the hospital and finally get to the bedside of your father who has experienced a heart attack.  When you hear the words, “He’s Alive,” if you know God, you are compelled to shout, “Praise the Lord!,”—you know that He is the Giver and Sustainer of life!

  Jesus, God’s Son, understands your pain and emotion; He lived on earth for 33 years back in the first century (AD), and died a martyr’s death.  He was crucified (nailed to a cross) by the Roman soldiers at the behest of the High Priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem.  He was buried, and on the third day, some ladies went to His tomb only to discover that He was not there.  An angel appeared to them and said, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. (Matthew 28:6-7)”  The ladies left the tomb, to go and tell His disciples the most amazing news, “He’s Alive!”

  Paul later reported that, after the ladies, “…[Jesus] was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present [the time of writing], but some are fallen asleep [dead].  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  And last of all he was seen of me also [Paul], as of one born out of due time. (1Corinthians 15:3-8)”  Without a doubt, He’s Alive!

  Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins; He rose from the dead to be your Savior and restore you to fellowship with God the Father.  John says, “…as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)”  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)”