Ancient Words For Today - 48
There is growing apprehension and fear in the hearts of people around the world concerning the pressing local and global problems. Even those trusting in God for their future can at times get depressed as they focus on current events. There are more wars being fought at one time than ever before in history! The Middle East conflict is a powder keg that could touch off a terrifying World War III. Famine and deadly incurable diseases are devastating many countries. Citizens' freedom in many nations has been taken away by lawless dictators and evil regimes. Ethnic and religious persecution and extermination has taken place before our eyes in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many African nations. Mega storms, major earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and other natural disasters beyond our control, which kill millions annually, are increasing in frequency and intensity. Environmentalists predict the deterioration and eventual death of our planet's ecosystem unless severe changes are made in the way we live and utilize our world resources.
In the United states, people worry about the roller coaster stock market, the future of Social Security, inflationary erosion of wealth, and outsourcing of jobs to other countries. The emerging social and cultural upheaval is rocking the traditional family structure and tearing down strong principles that once made our country great and strong. The headlines are filled with accounts of hate crimes, serial rapists and murderers, kids killing their parents, parents torturing their children, terrorist threats and the like.
It seems like everything is spinning out of control, there are serious issues without answers, a world in perplexity, causing us to wonder what the future of our nation and world will be. Will our world even survive?
There are those that still believe mankind will ultimately solve the world's problems. But it has been thousands of years and the problems continue to grow worse, not better. Actually the problems stem from the very heart of man that has been corrupted and separated from God by their sins: and man has no solution to remedy that which arises from their fallen nature. Here is what God has to say about it:
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:5-14
There is good news to tell! God has a wonderful solution to man's unsolvable sin problem. Jesus is the solution!! As terrible as the world situation is today, there is a very bright hope and future for God's people! God, our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, sit on the throne and reign supreme in the universe. God has promised He will make an end of sin, cleanse the hearts of His people, and restore the earth to the wonderful paradise it was when He created it. Those who have put their trust in God, through faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, will populate His perfect, sinless kingdom for ever!! There will be no evil, sickness, natural disasters or death in His Kingdom. Below is a portion of the wonderful vision John, the Apostle, saw of God's Kingdom that will restore our world, perhaps in the very near future. I pray it will comfort your hearts, lift your spirits and kindle your hope for the future:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:1-7 & 22:3-5
John tells us specifically who the overcomers are that will be in God's eternal kingdom: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 john 5:1-5
Wherefore, let us comfort one another with these words! God bless you and give you His peace.