Ask yourself, just for a moment, what you really believe is going to happen as history unfolds in ever-greater extremes.
Charles Dickens’ famous opening passage from A Tale of Two Cities begins this way: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
Doesn’t the world today look like just such a set of contradictions? But it’s more severe than that. The pendulum is swinging in an ever-wider arch: the best is getting better, and the worst is getting worse. History still moves toward a clash. The question of destiny should press itself on every person’s mind. Some take comfort in the roll of the dice: chances are I will be able to duck the clash. But whether any of us are firsthand witnesses of the climax of history, we will all face the last doorway when we come to the end of our own lives. We all need the God who says, “In the day of salvation, I will help you” (Isa.49:8). We all need to heed the advice that “the hour has come for you to wake from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Rom.13:11).
The biblical word “salvation” means rescue. It means someone bigger and better, stronger and wiser, does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. The necessity of salvation takes nothing away from human dignity. Rather, it gives us back our own lives. Whether we realize we need rescue or not, we still need rescue. It just makes sense for us to admit it, and to live in such a way that we respond to the rescue.
Excerpt from Putting the Pieces Back Together: How Real Life and Real Faith Connect. Complimentary DVD available now.
The rescue has occurred on the Cross and in the heart and mind
The change has occurred. The cloak of the Spirit is on the back
His words are in the mouth. There is no waiting for them
Nor for Him. Nor for Life nor Death. All things have passed
This is Life in Him
Excellent. This was well said. I especially like the last paragraph. It’s a reminder that our relationship with God is a dynamic two way street and that salvation is 1) a process and 2) that there will be a final, once and for all salvation when human history is all wrapped up. It’s our job to be faithful and obedient to Him “lest we fall.”
Thank you for your insight and prophetic view. It is important for us to see the flow of history; to be children of the day and the light. I do see the offense to our fallen, rebellious nature–that we need a savior and saving. However, accepting salvation “as little children” is both mature and wise, even sane.
This time in history is certainly similar to the times that Charles Dickens portrays in his book. In some ways we have made life easier than at any other time in history. But some of these changes have not been without their cost. For instances, some of the crowning achievements that we humans have accomplished has been in the area of destruction of each other. Man has always wanted to conquer flight. He did and what happened? The greatest achievement in flight has come in making fighters and bombers and inter-continental ballistic missiles. We wanted to go beyond the bounds of earth for space exploration and so we achieve space travel. I don’t have any stats but I would guess that the greatest amount of funds spent on exploring space was for the purpose of spying on each other. We have made some great accomplishments in the medical area but some of these accomplishments have brought about staggering moral questions than mankind never could have imagined in ages past. These are just a few there are others. When we think of the complexity of these accomplishments we are reminded that we need someone to step into our world and take control. We need someone that does not have this human nature that I am so prone to follow to take control and save us.
I believe that. I believe that in relationships. I believe the time is now. Not that it is the end of time or that I could possibly begin to see when the end is coming. But even though my walk has not always been what it should be; I believe that as we read the word of God and surround ourselves with a cloud of witnesses that are firm in the faith we become what God calls us to be. Today when I was listening to Chip Ingram, and Focus on the Family, I often ask myself how “am I able” to become a better wife and mother, sister and daughter, mother in law so that I may win others over through my actions and not words. I heard the verse Romans 8:1 and I thought to myself God does love me and He “is able” to do imeasureably more than I ever thought imaginable in and through me. He is an awesome God. Romans 8:1 For now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He makes us new. I am able to live with that.
Regardless of what anyone thinks or believes, God’s Word will be fulfilled. To worry is futile and indicative of doubt, but to be prepared is wise and indicative of personal belief and trust.
If you do not Believe In Jesus Christ as the only way truth and life.born of a virgin,shed his Blood on the cross and rose again,and came back to save all those who ask Jesus into thier life body ,by the Power of His Holy Spirit, Will go to Hell.
So yes it dose Matter.
I love all the responses and the insight with which each considered their response. The world throughout its history has been dark and confusing when God was forgotten or ignored. As we move towards the return of Jesus, the depths to which the world have fallen in the areas of hate, bigotry, immorality, inhumanity, etc. is staggering. Thank God that the light of Jesus has been shining in His own throughout History. The remnant has always been there. God knew we needed those lights so the Truth could go forward. We need to stay so close to Him, relying on Him every moment of everyday as we walk out our salvation, continually being sanctified, giving everything including our lives for the sake of the Gospel. What an awesome privilege to be one of His own.
Amen Lord Amen
May God the Father help all his true children by & in Jesus Christ because he is the only & true author of our salvation (God the Savior, the Creator of all things, & the Son of God – Jesus).