For the last several months the morning services at Berean have emphasized the importance of standing up for Christ when to do such is not popular. Charles Colson commented on the importance of times such as the dark clouds of persecution we see approaching. These times are discussed in Matthew 10:16-22. Colson made his comment over 30 years ago. His statement is more appropriate today than it was then:
“The times seem to smell of sunset.”
To deny that an intense, actually infuriated, move against the people of God is in process is to practice the actions described by Chrysostom: “Like men with sore eyes they find the light is painful while the darkness which permits them to see nothing is restful and agreeable.” We would simplify the statement by stating people are sticking their head in the sand!
Recently while thumbing through the pages of one of my old Bibles in use 25 years ago, I noted this about the times taught about in the passage and applied to the situation 25 years ago, people were loveless, lawless and lonely!
The media bears witness to this each hour of each day. The term for the times we are experiencing is often referred to as apocalyptic, meaning God is about to intervene, Christ is soon appearing etc.
I have no idea when Christ is coming, though several of my uninformed friends are certain that they have this date down to within a few hours! The question I am faced with is, what am I to be doing while this is taking place mildly or in full fury?
Thankfully, we are not left to our own ideas. During the celebration of our churches 28th Anniversary, my son, Jonathan Lilly offered a verse from the Apostle Paul, who in the passage of 2Corinthians was talking about life, death, the coming of Christ and the importance of forgiving a brother who had committed an unspeakable sin, but repented. Notice what Paul said to be doing while we wait 2Corinthians 5:9,
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
Francis Schaeffer asked the question, How Should We Then Live? The answer for us is rather simple; in times of great trouble Christians should live as we should have been living all along.
The walk with Jesus is one that is to be constant, to be living the abundant life of service to Him, and as He is past earthly needs, serving others, with the clear understanding the when we help others in their life struggle we are, according to Jesus Himself, doing and giving of ourselves to Him. Jesus Christ assures us that this is true in Matthew 25:40,
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Prayer, study of the scriptures, perhaps via memory as many Bibles will be burned, helping, sharing the meager means that are left. In times of trouble we will learn to trust Christ more, while having less and thus accomplish more eternal good, equaling Victory in troubled times.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
For Great IT work click Oral Deckard
“The times seem to smell of sunset.”
To deny that an intense, actually infuriated, move against the people of God is in process is to practice the actions described by Chrysostom: “Like men with sore eyes they find the light is painful while the darkness which permits them to see nothing is restful and agreeable.” We would simplify the statement by stating people are sticking their head in the sand!
Recently while thumbing through the pages of one of my old Bibles in use 25 years ago, I noted this about the times taught about in the passage and applied to the situation 25 years ago, people were loveless, lawless and lonely!
The media bears witness to this each hour of each day. The term for the times we are experiencing is often referred to as apocalyptic, meaning God is about to intervene, Christ is soon appearing etc.
I have no idea when Christ is coming, though several of my uninformed friends are certain that they have this date down to within a few hours! The question I am faced with is, what am I to be doing while this is taking place mildly or in full fury?
Thankfully, we are not left to our own ideas. During the celebration of our churches 28th Anniversary, my son, Jonathan Lilly offered a verse from the Apostle Paul, who in the passage of 2Corinthians was talking about life, death, the coming of Christ and the importance of forgiving a brother who had committed an unspeakable sin, but repented. Notice what Paul said to be doing while we wait 2Corinthians 5:9,
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
Francis Schaeffer asked the question, How Should We Then Live? The answer for us is rather simple; in times of great trouble Christians should live as we should have been living all along.
The walk with Jesus is one that is to be constant, to be living the abundant life of service to Him, and as He is past earthly needs, serving others, with the clear understanding the when we help others in their life struggle we are, according to Jesus Himself, doing and giving of ourselves to Him. Jesus Christ assures us that this is true in Matthew 25:40,
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Prayer, study of the scriptures, perhaps via memory as many Bibles will be burned, helping, sharing the meager means that are left. In times of trouble we will learn to trust Christ more, while having less and thus accomplish more eternal good, equaling Victory in troubled times.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
For Great IT work click Oral Deckard
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