In our world today, one might rightly ask the question - 'What has gone wrong?' ....a world full of strife, violence, greed, poverty, a world where standards of morality are turned upside down and authority is rebelled against. Security for the future is gone and relationships in families and between nations are disintegrating.
May I interrupt this morose description with the Bible storyline.
When God made all things, He made it 'good'. When He made man and woman He made them 'good ' with the added favour of being able to 'choose'. And choose they did - Eve chose to 'listen' to the evil one and Adam chose to disobey God. The precious spiritual link with God was broken. Cain murdered his brother and thus set in motion the ongoing conflict between tribes and nations.
Where was God in all this? In the garden it is God who comes looking for Adam - "Adam where are you?" In the preaching of Noah, God is calling the people back to righteousness, but they would not listen. In the priest Melchizedeck, God was entreating the nations to draw near to worship the true and living God. In the person of Abraham, He was demonstrating the real possibility of a personal relationship with God. Then Israel as a nation was established to stand as a beacon of light among the nations. They were to represent God dwelling on earth, God's holiness in the law and sacrifices and God's grace as they interacted with others. Their failure with consequential judgements was to be a voice of warning from God. Some noticed God thus at work , but most made the choice to ignore God and do their own thing. History is abundant with nations rising, rejecting God and then falling.
Then a most significant thing happened -- God Himself appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. His stated mission was not to put the world right, but as a rescue mission to call people from the state of disconnect and rebellion to the God intended state of reconciliation and relationship. The terms stated were simple -- Believe God and receive His earthly representative, His Son Jesus. The means of reconciliation were filled in by God Himself i.e. paying the debt of sin, removing the curse of a broken law, removing the stain of rebellion, breaking the chains of Satan, causing light to shine by His holy Spirit etc.
The call of Jesus was often repeated -- Repent and believe the Good news!
Where are we 2000 years later? The world at large still do not believe in Him. The religions of the world operate best without Him. The most of the Jews consider Jesus a false Messiah. The nations prefer to legislate according to the will of the people rather than the will of God. Most educational systems have eliminated the true Gospel of repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If God gets a mention at all ,He is considered to be a helper of humanities endeavours to be better.
Well what ought God do? Justice calls for God's wrath to be executed upon this world in its rebellion - and it will be. But in the present time God is calling people to repent of their wandering ways, rebellious attitudes and indifference. His patience interrupts the voice of vengence, for He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should be saved.
His terms remain simple and His promises sure.
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' Romans 10.13
For those more enlightened
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10.9
Much is wrong in our world today, and the Bible record is the best explanation why. I plead with all to turn from the distractions around us and seek the Lord - He is not far from everyone of us. Perhaps the greatest hindrance of reconciliation is the pride and conceit within us. The idea of saying 'God is right and I am wrong ' seems too much.
May all who read these lines, repent (turn from self and sin to God) and believe in (sincere faith and trust) the Lord Jesus Christ.
John McKee johnmckee@internode.on.net
May I interrupt this morose description with the Bible storyline.
When God made all things, He made it 'good'. When He made man and woman He made them 'good ' with the added favour of being able to 'choose'. And choose they did - Eve chose to 'listen' to the evil one and Adam chose to disobey God. The precious spiritual link with God was broken. Cain murdered his brother and thus set in motion the ongoing conflict between tribes and nations.
Where was God in all this? In the garden it is God who comes looking for Adam - "Adam where are you?" In the preaching of Noah, God is calling the people back to righteousness, but they would not listen. In the priest Melchizedeck, God was entreating the nations to draw near to worship the true and living God. In the person of Abraham, He was demonstrating the real possibility of a personal relationship with God. Then Israel as a nation was established to stand as a beacon of light among the nations. They were to represent God dwelling on earth, God's holiness in the law and sacrifices and God's grace as they interacted with others. Their failure with consequential judgements was to be a voice of warning from God. Some noticed God thus at work , but most made the choice to ignore God and do their own thing. History is abundant with nations rising, rejecting God and then falling.
Then a most significant thing happened -- God Himself appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. His stated mission was not to put the world right, but as a rescue mission to call people from the state of disconnect and rebellion to the God intended state of reconciliation and relationship. The terms stated were simple -- Believe God and receive His earthly representative, His Son Jesus. The means of reconciliation were filled in by God Himself i.e. paying the debt of sin, removing the curse of a broken law, removing the stain of rebellion, breaking the chains of Satan, causing light to shine by His holy Spirit etc.
The call of Jesus was often repeated -- Repent and believe the Good news!
Where are we 2000 years later? The world at large still do not believe in Him. The religions of the world operate best without Him. The most of the Jews consider Jesus a false Messiah. The nations prefer to legislate according to the will of the people rather than the will of God. Most educational systems have eliminated the true Gospel of repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If God gets a mention at all ,He is considered to be a helper of humanities endeavours to be better.
Well what ought God do? Justice calls for God's wrath to be executed upon this world in its rebellion - and it will be. But in the present time God is calling people to repent of their wandering ways, rebellious attitudes and indifference. His patience interrupts the voice of vengence, for He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should be saved.
His terms remain simple and His promises sure.
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' Romans 10.13
For those more enlightened
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10.9
Much is wrong in our world today, and the Bible record is the best explanation why. I plead with all to turn from the distractions around us and seek the Lord - He is not far from everyone of us. Perhaps the greatest hindrance of reconciliation is the pride and conceit within us. The idea of saying 'God is right and I am wrong ' seems too much.
May all who read these lines, repent (turn from self and sin to God) and believe in (sincere faith and trust) the Lord Jesus Christ.
John McKee johnmckee@internode.on.net
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