2022 Archives

  The Apostle Peter wrote, “But the end of all things is at hand: ¹ be ye therefore sober, ² and watch unto prayer. ³ And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ⁴ Use hospitality one to another without grudging. ⁵ As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1Peter 4:7–11)”  Peter was writing to first century Christians who were about to suffer great persecution that would cause them to anticipate the end of the age.  Peter told them that in light of the fact that the end of the age was indeed approaching, they should:

1. Get serious about their Christian lives,
   • Keep your eyes focused on the Lord, not on the world.
2. Get in a mental state that is conducive to prayer,
   • Be calm and collected.
3. Stretch their love for each other to its limits,
   • Be willing to overlook the faults and failures of others.
4. Be hospitable (i.e. generous to guests),
   • Be motivated by love, never grudging.
5. Exercise their spiritual gifts.
   • Work in the strength that God gives, AND for the good of all.

 It is almost 2000 years since Peter wrote these words.  Some will scoff and say, “You Christians have been talking about the end of the age forever.  When will you abandon these fantasies?”  But the Lord who promised, declares: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Peter 3:8)”  Better get ready!

  Now here is a term that is being tossed around a lot lately.  Not so much by scientists or those who journal scientific discoveries, but by politicians and activists who are willing to dilute God, the Bible, Science, History, Math, Common Sense, or anything else that might be exploited to prop up their fallacious philosophical or political agendas.  Some have proven themselves to be liars and lunatics, whose god is their own gain.  They speak great swelling words of political rhetoric while their naked motives have been exposed by the ever present technological ears and eyes employed by their opponents.  It seems the only true science being utilized by those who oppose good and God, is that which pertains to civil engineering, and that only to destroy the foundations of decency in the civilized world.

  But what of true science?  In the last 100 years we have benefitted from numerous scientific advances: Antibiotics, the Importance of Electrolytes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the Eradication of Smallpox, Atomic Energy, to name just a few.  Not surprisingly, much of what science has discovered was already disclosed in the Word of God: the shape of the earth, the hydrologic cycle, the procreation of life in the womb, the perfect order of the universe, the delicate balance of nature, the nutritional value of certain foods, etc.  True science has always confirmed what has been long revealed in the Bible. In the final analyses, true science will never contradict the Bible, though it has sometimes taken man years to adjust his conclusions based upon further consideration of honestly collected empirical data.

  When someone says, “We follow the science!”  we would do well to test their claims by the Word of God which is full of scientific information described in terms that are easy to grasp.  In areas not specifically addressed, there are principles and precepts to govern our speculation, and to keep us from unfounded conclusions.  The Lord asked Job, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. (Job 38:4)”  Job’s reply, “…therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. (Job 42:3)”

  When Jesus’ followers received word that some Jewish zealots had been put to death by the Roman governor of Judaea for insurrection against Rome, their conversation seemed to imply, “They got what was coming to them.”  Jesus asked the disciples if they thought these men were more deserving of harsh punishment than themselves.  He quickly answered His own question with, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)  His point was that all men are sinners by nature, and are equally deserving of death.  The Apostle Paul said it like this to the Romans: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)” and “The wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23)”  Paul obviously agreed with the Words of Jesus, as do all the writers of scripture, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

  So, what does it mean to repent?  Repentance is a change of heart and mind toward God and sin that will manifest itself by a change in life and actions.  It is the result of seeing God as the Supreme Lord and seeing your sin as an offense to His very nature.  Repentance grasps the grave consequences of sin: destruction of the “abundant life” that God intended for us here on earth, and eternal separation from God (spiritual death) to be endured in the Lake of Fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels (i.e. demons).  If you don’t believe in such things now, you will.  Remember, what you and I believe does not change the facts as they are presented in the Word of God.

  Repentance describes the condition of a heart that is ready to embrace God’s offer of forgiveness, which He purchased at the great cost of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because He suffered the death that you deserve and was raised from the dead, He can offer you His righteousness in exchange for your unrighteousness, having borne its penalty on the cross.

  If you decide to wait and see, you will soon understand that Holy God who punished His Son to provide your salvation, will not now overlook your sinfulness after you have trampled underfoot the blood of His beloved Son.  “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)”

  Do you believe in electricity?  Sure you do; every day is packed with evidences that those negatively charged particles called electrons, are on the move.  Though you can’t see them, they make themselves abundantly evident by the things they do (e.g. make a stove hot, light your computer screen, or produce a flash of lightning).    Though useful in many ways, electricity is a source of energy that can also be dangerous or even destructive if we don’t maintain a healthy respect for its potential.  If you stand too close as you observe what it does, it might teach you the last lesson you will ever learn.

  Do you believe in God?  While you may answer this question affirmatively, like electricity, you cannot see Him.  God’s existence is evidenced by what He has done or what He does.  One of the most obvious works of God is YOU, and the habitat that you call home (earth).  “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)”  And He has not abandoned His creation but lovingly sustains it for your sake.  “For in him we live, and move, and have our being… (Acts 17:28)”  If He so much as loosens His grip, the order that we are so accustomed to in the universe would become disorder, and the elements would melt with fervent heat. (2Peter 3:10-12)

  But who talks about God these days?  He is always there, doing what He does… and we have learned to depend upon His common grace without acknowledging His presence or expressing gratitude for His bounty.  Because of His proven faithfulness we no longer fear Him.  We have forgotten, if we ever knew, that our God is also Holy and Just, and that He will apply His law to us and our deeds at the coming judgment.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)”  “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)”  Perhaps these thoughts give you pause—it is time to think about God.  “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2Corinthians. 6:2)”

  Do you sometimes feel that the pace of life is getting faster, that people don’t have time for one another any more?  While everything is going your way, the pace may not seem so threatening; but when you fall into one of those pitfalls of life, it is like sitting in the middle of a crowded highway in a stalled car with a dead cell phone battery, and passers by blowing their horns and shaking their fists with scowling faces.  No one seems willing to busy themselves with the rescue of the distressed.  A “Who cares?” attitude plagues our nation.

  God would like to remind you that He Cares! Though the world has drastically changed for the worse, “He is …the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17b).”   He sees you even in the most hopeless predicament of life, and comes to your rescue.  What predicament might that be?  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).”  “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10).”  You and I were born into sin, and we are sinners by choice.  The Bible tells us that our sinfulness has earned us eternal death and separation from our loving Heavenly Father.  “For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23a).”

 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).”  Yes, God loved His fallen creatures so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to purchase our forgiveness through His death on the cross. He rose from the dead and has ascended back to heaven to intercede for you and me as Savior and Lord.  How can you obtain this wonderful deliverance?  Turn from your sin and to the Savior!  The Bible tells us that we need: “…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21b)”  It’s that simple, “Repent” and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31).”

  No, this won’t supernaturally take all the bumps out of the road of life, but as a child of God you can always be assured that He is with you, that He has time to help, that HE CARES.