I still can hardly believe that we are in the year
2016. As I reflect back over my
lifetime, I am truly amazed at how my world has changed over the years. I was born in 1951 and remember party lines
on the rotary dial telephone and only three black and white channels on the
TV. I remember being thrilled with
getting a transistor radio that I could carry around and listen to music
without being plugged in.
Sadly, I also remember a time when morality based
on the biblical standard was pretty much the readily accepted standard. It seems that we in the United States have
finally chosen to totally reject God and His word as a whole—at least as it
pertains to government and the laws of our land.
This truth saddens me greatly, but it was to be
expected. The scripture foretold that
such would become predominant in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1–13 “This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away….Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
In Paul’s letter to the
Romans, he added more detail to what it means for evil to wax worse and worse.
Romans 1:18–32 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness….Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts
of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men
with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty
of their error which was due. And even
as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are
whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving,
unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those
who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also
approve of those who practice them.”
It stands to reason that as the time draws nearer
for Satan to rule this world through Antichrist, his false messiah, that the
morality of our world will be more reflective of him and his rebellion against
God.
Thankfully, the LORD has determined that Satan
will only be allowed a period of seven years to rule on planet earth before
Jesus returns to destroy the Antichrist and imprison Satan for 1000 years. During that time the LORD Jesus will rule the
world from the throne of David in Jerusalem, and mankind will get to experience
a truly righteous and just dictatorship.
Sounds contradictory doesn’t it?
But it will be wonderful!
I believe that the scripture teaches that the LORD
will come to take His children home to heaven to be with the Father before
those last seven years. The prophecies
recorded in God’s word that have been fulfilled have been 100% accurate, so why
should we doubt those that await final fulfillment?
Are you a child of God? Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? ONLY through faith in Jesus can one receive
the gift of salvation. Please don’t
wait until it’s too late to repent of your sin and turn to Him in faith as your
LORD.
If you are a fellow believer, I urge you to stay
immersed in God’s word. The LORD has
promised that He is sufficient to help us overcome every temptation. He has promised that He is always with us. We have nothing to fear since we only have
heaven to gain.
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