SIGNS OF THE TIMES

On December 18, 2009, the European Union...the President signed the first part of... What this means for the Christian is that God's word is coming to pass when, "...the dragon was wroth [angry] with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her [the church of Christ] seed which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," (Revelation 12:19) is nearer now than when we first believed.

On December 1, 2009, Germany reaffirmed the sacredness of Sunday as a day of worship to be protected. What this means for the Chrisian is that the time when the second beast power, with the backing of the first beast power would, "...cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed...and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the number of the beast, or the number of his name" is nearer now than when we first believed (Revelation 13:15-17).

On December ??, 2009, the District of Columbia sanctioned gay marriage. What this means to the Christian that, "...as in the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37-39).

There are two groups of people we can be in during these times. One group will be looking at the coming crisis and respond with anxiety, fear or worse yet, despair. The other group will be watching, praying and working, and as they see bible prophecy being fulfulled, their faith will be strengthened in the certainty of the coming Christ.

This past year has brought about more changes to our world and way of life then we could ever have imagined. Some have been stirred to action or even more effective, self-examination and prayer. Some have missed the signs, being cleverly distracted by well-timed expositions of Tiger Woods' sins, Michael Jackson's well-publicized death, Rihanna's personal problems and the unprecedented inaugration of the first dark-skinned man in America's Presidental history.

Friends, my appeal is simple, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44).

"WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME: THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW,...AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER" (Philippians 2:9-11).

PATRIOTISM OF ANOTHER ORDER (Pt. 2)

The weekend after writing PATRIOTISM OF ANOTHER ORDER (Pt. 1), I had the opportunity to drive six hours on the highway. I maintained the speed limit all the way, either going at 55mph or 65mph depending on the Interstate.

In a small town, I was cruising down a mountain, letting gravity do it natural work, not paying attention to my speed and ended up being pulled over for going 48mph in a 25mph speed zone. For one split moment, not paying attention caused me to transgress the law.

Are you beginning to see the spiritual importance here as it relates to the Law of God? Are you beginning to get a clearer picture of the deception that is being preached concerning the Ten Commandments and their validity in our lives today?

This is important friends. This is not legalism. If obeying the law is legalism, then that police should not have pulled me over and I should not have received a ticket. He should be out of a job and the courts should be closed. We would be free to do as we please and there would be no governing body to appeal to.

Can you see the chaos this world would be in. The law is there for our happiness, not to hinder us. Why should God's laws be any different?

Do you get the picture?

PATRIOTISM OF ANOTHER ORDER (Part 1)

“I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.” Free to do whatever I please? Free from religious persecution? Exactly what freedoms are afforded to me?

Well this isn’t going to be an appeal for the separation of church and state.

This is about obeying the laws as an act of patriotism or loyalty and an act of love. How deep does your pride go? How much do you love your country? Do you love it enough to obey its laws? Do you love it enough to follow those laws even when you don’t want to, when everyone else is breaking them or when transgressing them would be easiest thing to do?

Speeding is a problem for me. A sin if you will. My problem does not consume me continually because we don’t have a car, but when we rent or borrow a vehicle I come face to face with my sin problem. I don’t like speed limits. They limit my ability to sin (speed) freely.

Have you ever tried driving on a normal day at 55 mph or worse yet, 35 mph? I did. Yesterday I decided to obey all the speed limits for 1 day.

Here are my observations:

• I’ve been so accustomed to speeding for so long that it feels natural, exhilarating even
• The other drivers became irritated with me for obeying the law because it kept them from breaking it
• They rode my bumper to force me to sin (speed)
• I was not even aware of what the speed limit was on certain roads
• I didn’t even notice when I far exceeded the speed limit, until I heard sirens or saw a police cruiser which caused me to look at the speedometer
• None of the above would have been an excuse if I’d been pulled over


At the end of the day, maintaining a lawful speed requires a conscious effort (mind) and physical action (will) and cannot be just something that I tell myself I’m going to do.

My actions must be based on principle, not on what everyone else is doing. If I’m not aware of the law, it does not mean that I’m exempt from obeying it. Fear of punishment is not a pleasant motivator for obedience.

Obedience must be based on respect and love for the governing entity and the belief that its laws are there for my good….

(to be continued)