Pastor Buddy’s Blog

King of the ages…

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Journal,

All who believe in the God of the Bible, in that His Word is true, and that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God, of whom they have accepted as their own Lord and Savior, these have secured for themselves an eternal and blessed destiny. And in this present life, God gives all these believing ones the path of light they are to follow.

Jesus said,

 ”I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” - John 8:12

The darkness speaks of a spiritual blindness and an ignorance that rests upon the souls of lost humanity. For all who reject the Light, there can only be a darkness of life. Darkness of life spells itself out in disarray, in discontent, in destruction, and eventually in dismay. People of the darkness live destroyed lives. What they don’t realize is that the warfare of their heart is against God Himself. 

Not so with the people of the Light. We have peace that can only come from a true relationship with the God of eternity. Again the Lord says, 

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” - John 10:27,28 

As I shared in my last entry, it really isn’t that hard to determine where we are in God’s timetable of redemption. The Bible gives us an awareness of the times. We are in a time where the world by and large has rejected the true Light of God. It is a repeat of salvation history. Just as the Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Jesus because of their own spiritual blindness, this same spiritual blindness has settled as a dark shadow over the world today.

So what we have at hand are the people of the Light, and the people of the darkness. There is a sharp distinction between the two. People of the darkness stumble through life. People of the Light know where they are going. But we shouldn’t be surprised. The Lord said it would happen.

Listen to how Jesus responded to the religious leaders who wanted to test Him. See if it applies today:

“But He replied to them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.” Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.’ And He left them and went away.” - Mat 16:2-4 NASB

The list would be quite long…

If I were to list the signs that the Bible gives for the wrap up of the age as we know it, the list would be quite long. What would make this list most remarkable, however, is that the signs given can apply to no other generation than that of the generation we are now in. From that I can see and understand, we are the only generation of mankind that perfectly fits the endtime picture. The world scene by itself is a open declaration that we are nearing the last page. 

The Bible describes the amoral digress in our societies. It speaks to the social and economic upheavals of the day. It gives the alignment of the nations in the final hours. It even provides a time frame that we are able to look at. And this only scratches the surface of what is written in the sacred Scriptures concerning the final chapter before the day of the Lord. 

The world is blindly racing at breakneck speed towards wrath and judgment. The apostle gives us a broad overlay of what is in store for the world::

“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” - 2Pe 3:11-13 NASB

This is not a frightening message for the people of God. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, we are looking for a new day, a heavenly Jerusalem, and a new world. But all in its time. 

Jesus Christ is the King of the ages… 

Since my last journal entry had much to say about antichrist, let me simply direct your attention to what is in store for all of God’s people. 

Jesus is without time. He has always been. The prophet had this to say about God’s Messiah: 

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” - Micah 5:2 NASB

And hear what the prophet said Jesus would do until the time came when the Jewish nation would realize Him as Lord and Messiah:

“I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” - Hosea 5:15 NASB

The days of Jacob’s troubles are in the not too distant future. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, we hear these words:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” - Luke 13:34-35 NASB

The world is experiencing birth pangs…

Yes, the world is getting prepared for the dawning of a new age, but not before the period of antichrist is complete. And not before the people of Christ have been secured from the earth scene. And not before Israel undergoes her distress and her turning to the Lord Jesus. And of course the ‘answer man’ has to make his appearance. 

There is so much more to be said. But perhaps we can hear a song that puts our hearts where they need to be. Take time to listen to this song by the Gathier Vocal Band, ‘Alpha and Omega’:

The invitation still stands…

Two thousand years ago the Lord sent out an invitation to all the world to come to Him and be saved. We believers are commissioned to deliver that invitation of grace to all the world. The invitation can be accepted or rejected. For those who reject God’s invitation to believe in His Son Jesus, these will face their own judgment. For we who have acceped God’s invitation, our place is eternally secured. Throughout all eternity we will be known as, ‘the children of God.’ 

And believe me, all of eternity is waiting for these children to make their appearance in glory. Listen to the apostle: 

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” - Rom 8:15-19 NASB

Well, I think it works both ways. We believers are also anxiously wating our upward call to glory. 

And for you who are still lingering on the side lines, here is God’s word for you:

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”  - Isa 55:6-7 NASB

Buddy