Before
we look at the choices available to us, let's run through
the signs that justify the need for God to send His Son.
| A
population explosion |
In
1950 the world population totalled 2,5 Billion.
That doubled to 5 Bn in 1987 and the growth rate
increased from 1.47 to 1.71. Today the global population
has passed the 6.3 Billion mark. |
| Marrying
(and remarrying) |
Divorce
as a % of marriages : Russia 65%, UK 52%, USA 46%,
Canada 43% |
| Vain,
unchaste women |
Outward
appearance considered important - rather than inward
qualities. Image is everything, promoted by music,
sport and film 'idols'. |
| Evil
imaginations |
Due
to freedom of speech legislations, there is little
or no restriction on what people say or do. Morals
are degraded further through the lack of controls.
People now call good bad, and bad good. |
| A
wasted, neglected environment |
Hazardous
oil spills, air pollution, depletion of ocean resources,
gaseous emmissions resulting in an expansion of
the o-zone hole increasing UV levels, nuclear waste
and contamination, desertification, clearing of
tropical rainforests at an uncontrolled rate, soil
erosion, overcultivation of farms impacting on land
fertility, illicit dumping of toxic waste, etc. |
| Wide
spread violence |
High
school and domestic shootings, lack of gun control,
high crime rates. |
| Developed
Science and industry |
Pursuits
not geared to providing for the poor and needy,
industries concerned with profit margins and a disregard
of environmental or social impact. Science seen
as a praise worthy solution to world problems rather
than the Gospel. Trust is in technology. |
| Large
godless cities |
Populations:
New York 8 million, Mexico City 8.6m, London 7.3m,
Moscow 8.4m, Tokyo 8.1m |
| Senseless
violence |
Violence
is constantly promoted by movies, diplomatic resolutions
are not seen as sensationally pleasing for audiences. |
| Rampant
materialism |
People
are not content with their cars or homes. Bigger,
better & faster is the rule. |
| One
language, one speech or purpose |
One
of the aims of world wide trade is conformity of
language used, in order to promote interaction and
facilitate the exchange of goods. Man's common purpose
is to enjoy life to the fullest. Was this Christ's
purpose? |
| Making
a name for man |
Man's
laws are replacing those which were based on Godly
principles. Humanism is the popular model for society's
behaviour, this is a love for man's philosphies
and scorns anything religious. |
| Resistance
against divine judgement |
The
mindset of the recent global cataclysm themed movies
is that man can solve his own problems. Why should
man seek for God when man has rockets, computers
and robots? Are these realiable solutions? Are these
good foundations on which to build true peace, harmony
and order? |
| Unity |
Acceptance
of bad values for the sake of peace, tolerance of
other peoples' bad habits and evil practices. |
| Boundless
ambition |
Striving
for temporary goals which are inconsequential in
the long-run. |
| Consciously
disobeying God |
Poor
application of judgement on wicked behaviour, in
some cases even rewarding it. |
| Gross
immorality |
Lust
sells products, destroys marriages, pollutes family
life, treats children as pawns, and increases corruption
within companies and government. Where has romance
gone? |
| Carelessly
carrying on with daily routines |
Is
life too busy for thinking about how God cares for
us, and what His plan with this earth means? This
seems to be the case for most of the world. |
| Excessive
eating and drinking |
There
are no lack of resturaunts and pubs in my locality.
I'm sure that's also true for your district. An
accessible place to get together with friends and
talk about... ? |
| Idle,
ignoring the poor and the needy |
Golf,
tennis, soccer, cricket, skiing, racing, cycling,
running, canoeing, yatching, flying, swimming, rugby,
gambling, DST TV, music and other forms of entertainment
fill up peoples' free time, and distract them from
seeking after God and following after His commandments. |
| Much
trading resulting in greed and false confidence |
World
trade has been made easy by the internet and is
accessible to virtually anyone. |
God
is both good and severe.
|
The
Judgement of God will be performed
|
|
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you [the believers],
as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:
but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because
of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience.
|
|
Ephesians
3v5-6
|
There
are 2 paths to choose from. The wide and the narrow.
|
The
Judgement of God will be performed
|
|
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.
|
|
Ephesians
3v5-6
|
|
Choice
1 - leads to death
|
Choice
2 - leads to Life
|
Carry
on life as normal.
Go shopping. Feed the cat. Watch TV. |
Read the Bible. Seriously consider what God has
written.
|
[God]
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might
know, and beforetime, that we might say, "He
is right"? There was none who declared it,
none who proclaimed, none who heard your words.
But when I look there is no one; among these there
is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.
Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are
nothing; their molten images are empty wind.
Isaiah 41 v 26, 28-29 RSV
|
For
evildoers shall be cut off: but those that
wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the
earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked
shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider
his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall
inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves
in the abundance of peace.
Psalm 37 v 9-11
|
| Wash
the car. Phone your friends. Go out eating. |
Believe
the Truth God has declared. |
A
voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What
shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and
all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades, when
the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the
people is grass. The grass withers, the flower
fades; but the word of our God will stand for
ever.
Isaiah 40 v 6-8 RSV
|
Remember
also your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh,
when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
before the sun and the light and the moon and the
stars are darkened and the clouds return after the
rain;
Ecclesiastes 12 v 1-2 RSV |
| Read
a novel. Listen to some music. Have a rest. |
Repent.
Change your way of life. |
LORD,
make me to know mine end, and the measure of my
days, what it is; that I may know how frail I
am.
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;
and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every
man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely
every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are
disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth
not who shall gather them.
Psalm 39 v 4-6 |
But
what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets,
that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Repent therefore, and turn again,
that your sins may be blotted out, that times
of refreshing may come from the presence of the
Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed
for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the
time for establishing all that God spoke by the
mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
Acts 3v18-21 RSV |
|
Go to work. Read the post. Surf the net. |
Be
baptised into Christ's saving Name. |
What profit hath a man of all his labour which
he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth
away, and another generation cometh: but the earth
abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the
sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he
arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth
about unto the north; it whirleth about continually,
and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is
not full; unto the place from whence the rivers
come, thither they return again.
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter
it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor
the ear filled with hearing.
Ecclesiastes
1v 3-8 |
And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said,
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and
they went down both into the water, both Philip
and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8 v 36-38
He
who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16 v 16 RSV |
| Play
golf. Drive around town. Watch a movie. |
Live
by faith and continued good works. |
But
as the days of Noe 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 Noe 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 24v37-39 |
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 1 v 1 RSV
But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
Hebrews 11 v 6
Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth
of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted
word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1 v 21-22 RSV |
|
Seek
after God
|
|
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins
that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes,
and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his
transgressions that he hath committed, they shall
not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness
that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should
die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should
return from his ways, and live?
|
|
Ezekiel
18 v 21-23
|
1.
Turn from sin
2. Keep God's laws
3. Do that which is good.
|
Become
a servant of righteousness
|
|
Finally... whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
|
|
Philippians
4v8
|
Christ
is soon to return. Please think honestly about these
things.
People are waiting at our forum to help you with your
decision. Respond today.
You
are also welcome to contact us via email -
Dave .... evangelion@theChristadelphians.org
Jonno .... jonno@theChristadelphians.org
Mark ... mark@theChristadelphians.org
|
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