World Events

World events rush upon us and often take us by surprise. As a Christian I believe that everything is moving towards end times and that events described in the Bible will come to pass eventually. It was thousands of years between the initial promises of a Saviour (Genesis 3:15) and the coming of Jesus of Nazareth but this plus the fulfilment of other prophecies (see Daniel 2 and 7 for an example) give me the confidence that God's word will always be seen to be authentic in the end and will always be fulfilled.

I do not know (not being a prophet) how this emerging conflict between Israel and Iran will turn out and I do not necessarily agree with everything they have done in the last few years. I do, however, see that things are gathering pace and Biblical prophecy is nearing fulfilment.

In light of current world events we all need to be aware that time for all of us is running out. Time is a limited commodity not just in terms of what we can do in any 24 period but in terms of our life span. This means we need to take a relationship with God (or the lack of it) seriously.

Let me leave a few verses from the Bible with you that emphasis the urgency of getting your sins forgiven and being right with God before your life in this world ends.

 for He says,

“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,

AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”

Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”

2 Corinthians 6.2

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13.11,12

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Thess 5.3-8 (this is written to and about Christians)

Please, please, think seriously about you spiritual condition and your need of salvation. This is biggest issue that you will ever consider.

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Without Christ, Christmas is nothing!

If there is no Christ - there is no Christmas! Which is why are Christians are so convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Why you might ask, it's an excellent question.

Our belief is laid on a very solid foundation. First of all we believe in divine revelation not just human discovery. In fact to learn about something outside of our sphere of experience we all accept we need information from a trustworthy source. If you are serious about discovering the truth - check the Bible out. It is a trustworthy source. Read it, check it's sources, speak to those who believe it, look at it 's accuracy in every sphere it touches. There can only be one answer to the question of the origin of a book that was written over one thousand five hundred years by forty different authors, many of whom did not even know each other. The Bible is God's message to mankind.

Time for a change

Time for a Change

Fuelled by unfulfilled promises, unrealised hopes and mounting difficulties, "It’s time for a change" is frequently heard from both politicians and the general public.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE PAST

Within the recent past, changes have occurred with surprising suddenness. Governments once thought to be stable have been toppled. Financial institutions have failed. Once-successful businesses have collapsed. More serious than all, the moral fabric of society has been shattered by turning away from God and the principles of His Word, the Bible. The "Do what feels good" philosophy - casting off restraint and the rejection of authority which is really lawlessness, the essence of sin - has broken up families, ruined lives and brought the disillusion, disease, death and destruction we see all around us.

THERE WILL BE MORE CHANGES

When Jesus Christ was asked what the signs of His second coming in glory would be, He replied, "Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars … and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" Matthew 24.6-8.

Also, the Holy Spirit through Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3 reveals the coming apostasy, the "falling away," which is the result of professed Christians deliberately rejecting revealed truth concerning the Person of Christ and His work on Calvary’s cross. This has already set in, and in v.13 we read, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." This rapidly increasing apostasy will soon bring a swift change. Instead of God’s grace being still offered to all men whereby they may be saved, His judgment will fall upon this godless world of unbelievers to their eternal destruction.

THERE MUST BE A PERSONAL CHANGE

To escape the judgment of God upon sin you need to be changed. The Lord Jesus desires to change you from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to salvation, from judgment to glory. To enable this change He died on the Cross for you. There He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" 1Peter 3.18. That work is finished and sin’s penalty has been paid. The proof of God’s acceptance of that payment with Jesus’ shed blood on your behalf is seen in that He rose from the dead. The Lord Jesus lives, and now from heaven, through His Word, declares the way by which you may be changed.

WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE CHANGED?

The Lord Jesus declares, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 13.3,5. To repent means to change your mind as to the wrong course you are following without God. It means you accept His verdict that you have sinned and come short of His glory, and you can do nothing to save yourself. You must repent!

Secondly, He says, "Ye must be born again" John 3.7. New birth is spiritual birth from above, from God. It is brought about by receiving Christ as your Lord and Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" John 1.12. To receive Him is to believe on Him. To believe He died for you makes you a child of God. You receive everlasting life, and thus become a completely new creature in Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5.17. This is the change you must have, or else perish in eternal separation from God.

THE TIME FOR A CHANGE IS NOW

"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians. 6. 2. Trust Christ and be changed in this day of His grace. "Flee from the wrath to come" Luke 3.7.

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Written by a guest blogger (Assembly Testimony) for Seek the Truth Bible Media