Preparation

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus gave a sobering prophecy of what was to happen to ancient Israel and, I believe, to His end-time followers. He describes the most frightful events of wars, disease and poverty followed by the statement: “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:8 The first fulfillment of this prophecy was seen in 70ad when Jerusalem was destroyed. At the rate the world is going now we can see the signs of the second fulfillment.

As a result, many faithful students of the Bible and history are making preparations for this dreadful time, and as a result they neglect a vital part of the preparation. Insulating one’s self from society and preparing a farm house is not the answer. I am fully in support of country living and choosing one’s associates wisely (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). However, I also believe that God has placed us in specific circumstances to prepare us, as His followers. Neglecting a direct command to do good and share the word (Ezekiel 9:4) while embracing “…come out of her, my people” Revelation 18:4, brings to mind the command “…these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke 11:42 We are not to get caught up in the trappings of this world, however, we have a duty to our fellow man to ensure that he has heard the truth.

We have been entrusted with great knowledge of the future, but we are not to live there. We may know much of what is to occur, but we do not know what will be needed for that time, except to learn to obey His voice now so we can identify it then. Treacherous times are ahead (Matthew 24:24) and our only guard is the armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-13). Yes, God has given us the capacity to reason and to plan, but these skills are not our source of security in the dark days ahead. We are to put or full trust in God alone, because He alone knows what is to come. Right now we are to live for Him and be about our Father’s business.

Thinking about what is to come, reminds me of Israel in the time of Elijah the prophet. Elijah prayed that there would be no rain so that the people would turn away from Baal worship and back to God. Elijah was not insulated from the drought and famine that ensued. But, because he trusted and knew God, he was fed every day and was even able to be blessing to a family. God also provided for one hundred of His prophets during this time. (1 Kings 17-18)

No matter what situation we find ourselves in we are to always be about our Father’s business. In whatever vocation He has guided us we are to do all as unto Him. (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23,24)

In Faith

The Why

I have been thinking about this question for a while: “Why do you believe what you believe?”. I and many Christians in the world have been faced with it and have come up with many different answers. I’ve given the generic answer, “Because of what God has done for me”. But to someone with no experience with God and the Bible, though it is true that God has done a lot, this answer tends to ring sanctimonious and a bit hollow. Another prominent response has been “Because I have made the choice to believe that the Bible is truth”. While I have made this choice, it’s not an answer to “Why”.

I was talking to a friend, who was raised in a believing family and has subsequently left the faith for Atheism, and the question came up. Because I was talking to someone who knows the things I know my reflex response was prophecy. The messages in the books of Isaiah, Daniel and Revelation most of which have come true and the remainder of which is yet to be seen. He attempted to rebut by bringing up world powers that existed before that were not mentioned in those prophecies. However this doesn’t make the prophecies any less true.

I haven’t really thought about it much since that conversation and reverted to my “I chose” response, but I was reminded of two passages of scripture that have sealed the response. First, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Second, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaved we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1: 16-21

These passages reminded me, one, that all the answers to any question I may have come from the Word of God. His name after all is “I AM” Exodus 3:14. And two, there were people who saw Jesus during the 3½ years, there were witnesses to the Red Sea parting, fire coming down from heaven, and all the many miracles in the Old and New testaments. However, above these eyewitnesses God through inspiration has told us the history of the world. Daniel Chapter 2 summarizes and details were given throughout the book of Daniel and all the book of Revelation. And as the passage stated, none of these prophecies are subject to “private interpretation”. The Bible explains itself and anyone who desires to understand can read and understand with the help of the Holy Spirit.

So for this New Year, please “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Because, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Have a Blessed New Year!