Anticipating His Return
The rest … still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Now that we’ve spent over twenty weeks in Jeremiah … can you pick out where these verses come from? Surprisingly … not Jeremiah! They are from Revelation 9:20-21. These words about mankind’s recalcitrant refusal to be reconciled to God are spoken after the devastation of the Sixth Trumpet and the destruction of one third of the population of the earth.
There are certainly many reasons to be anticipating our Lord’s rapidly approaching return, but I am sometimes discouraged by the reckless novelty with which Bible prophecy is pursued. So much of what I read and hear seems to major on ferreting out what science experiment or secret society will be the catalyst for these events. I think Revelation is abundantly clear! God will be the undeniable catalyst … everyone will know and acknowledge that fact. If humans could in anyway attribute the coming global tragedies to natural or man-made causes … they certainly would. Consider Revelation 16:8-10:
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
The issue in these last days will not be atheism. It will be the ultimate expression of mankind’s ancient sin … “although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
Hardships of Discipline
During one of Judah’s most rebellious periods, under arguably its wickedest king … it enjoyed a great time of peace and prosperity. How does that square with God’s warnings that sin would bring discipline and judgement? The hardships of discipline are designed by God to bring people to repentance and restoration of relationship. But God has more than one tool in his tool box.
Once I did something that could have greatly angered my dad. It involved the misuse of a tool that I was not supposed to touch. When he discovered it … he didn’t say a word. He just gave me one look (a mix of disappointment and sympathy) and then went back to treating me with love. No punishment. Oddly that made a deeper impression than any spanking or rebuke. Sometimes a wise parent tries patience and kindness in the midst of disobedience to draw a child into a deeper relationship. God’s punishment of sin is meant to bring us to repentance … but so is God’s patience and kindness.
The famous description of man’s depravity in Romans 1 is followed by an often neglected warning against hypocritical judgement; condemning in others sins of which you are guilty. But the passage also contains valuable insight into our Heavenly Father’s parenting technique.
So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:3-4
As with his people long ago, God does not always bring immediate consequences for our sin. His forbearance offers an opportunity to turn to him based on love rather than punishment. His kindness is meant to lead you to forgiveness.
Where’s Your Center?
I’m currently reading the classic adventure “Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne. One thing that I appreciate about these older novels is that men do hard things without the lure of romance or sex. A group of men, venture into the unknown, withstanding extreme physical and mental hardship with courage, integrity and raw pluck. These books go on chapter after chapter … perhaps their entirety without a kiss or flirting or even a woman present. The only romance in the book mentioned above is that the narrator, Henry, often calls to mind his love for his fiancé Gretchen and it gives him strength.
But if Hollywood touches any of these classics, a love interest has to be introduced into the movie (sometimes at sacrifice of the plot). Gretchen would be at Henry’s sides battling sea serpents in the bowels of the earth. Henry and Hans would have to fight over Gretchen, and in the end Gretchen would have to save the ignorant brutes from their own testosterone fueled stupidity. The truth is that both men and women have done hard and valiant things throughout history. Sometimes separate … and sometimes together. The American West would not have been settled without stalwart women. My complaint is not the presence of women in adventure movies … it’s the implication that the driving force of history has been romance and sex.
The thing I don’t like about classic adventures is that they can go on chapter after chapter with no reference to faith in God. In fact, many view God as a person that real men put away in their youth and only return to in the direst times of extremity. This is an accurate portrayal of many men, but certainly not of all. While historians and Hollywood have tried to obscure the fact, Christian faith has been not only a companion, but the driving force in many world changing adventures. If anyone knows of a classic adventure novel where faith in Jesus plays a central role, please recommend it to me. In the meantime, I pray that Jesus is the central figure in all your adventures! Proverbs 3:5-6
Victors at Umpqua Community College
My heart aches for family and friends of the professor and eight students killed this past Thursday. It also hurts for those whose sense of safety has been forever shattered. I don’t wish to be opportunistic, but I do want to say something that many won’t. I want to share the truth about losing your life for Christ.
Multiple reports stated that the shooter asked victims if they were Christians. Those who said “yes” were executed, those who said “no” or refused to answer were only wounded. Amazingly … several news reports I looked at said the motive for the shootings was “unclear.” It seems pretty clear to me.
As I pondered the deaths of these students, I realized that the first student that was asked, “Are you a Christian?” probably had a good idea what was coming. Those asked subsequently had no doubt. Still, they said “Yes.” They consciously chose to identify with Jesus Christ knowing they would be killed.
The shooter left a document in which he reportedly talked about being “embraced by the devil” and “welcomed into hell.” We should not be surprised that such atrocities would carry the fingerprints of Satan. Jesus said, “he was a murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44) Satan was behind this mass murderer, but he was not, nor will he be the victor. Those slain were his victims … but they did not lose, nor were they beaten.
Jesus guaranteed, “whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35) Revelation offers us further insight on our fallen brothers and sisters in Oregon:
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Rev. 2:10)
They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:11)
Pressure Washer in Paradise
The azure bay glinted with a million flames of late afternoon sun. A ring of island sentinels stood unmoved against the pounding white surf calming the waters within their protection. Playful breezes from the sea cooled my sun-heated skin and teased the emerald palms above my head. Gazing into the fathomless crystalline heavens … sharing the wordless affection of my wife and best friend. And oh, the sweet sweet melody of … a 208cc Briggs & Stratton, single stroke engine whipping its hydraulic-pistoned companion into a 3200 psi frenzy!
Sue and I had retreated to a little resort in Boca Chica which in my opinion is one of the nicest places I’ve been on earth. Having just studied Heaven for several months of Wednesdays, I don’t use the word ‘paradise’ lightly, but this might be as close as I’ve come. Except for the workman at the neighboring resort power-washing the steps down to the dock … all 4000 of them! His maniacal machine roared and frothed hour after hour, a rather large and noisy fly in our beautiful ointment.
It really didn’t bother me as much as it could have. It was a reminder that something is coming that is better than the best our world has to offer. There is a place called Paradise prepared for those who have placed their faith in Jesus (Luke 23:43 and Revelation 2:7). We’re only given enough information about it to whet our appetites, but two things are very clear. First, it is a place without mixture. There will be no fly in the ointment of Heaven (Revelation 21:4); it will be wholly good. Second, its grandest pleasure will not be about the place, but the Person (Revelation 21:3, 22-23). I will be in the presence of my God and Savior and the raucous whine of sin will be forever banished from my heart.
