In the book of 1st Thessalonians 5:3 a time in history is described by the apostle Paul as a period where people will be saying, ‘there is peace and security’ then sudden destruction shall come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. The Bible describes a time of great distress such as the world has never known that will come suddenly when many will not be ready for it. The Bible also warns of five foolish virgins who are found waiting for the bridegroom along with five wise virgins. The foolish virgins have no oil in their lamps and cannot see truth as it unfolds before them, the wise virgins understand what is happening around them, for they have oil in their lamps and can discern the times in which they live. Jesus Himself warns us in Matthew 24:36 ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. And in verse 44 He states, ‘Therefore be ye ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
As we returned to church this week a poignant sermon was preached on the concept of time. How time is finite, limited and winding down. As the civil unrest in our country escalates the time to take action is now. What kind of action, riots, protests, activism? NO. I am talking about something far more lasting, the condition of the human soul. Where are we going when we die? Do we know? Are we right with God? There is a limited amount of time, a measured out span of days allotted to answer these questions, to decide who and what we will place our trust in. Did you know that you have a soul that will live forever in one of two places? Did you know that you have a Saviour who loves you? His name is Jesus Christ and He is God. He is the one who made you, loves you and wants to forgive all of your sin and mine. He desires this so much that He bled on a Roman cross to pay the sin debt of the whole world! He atoned for our sins in full. Yes we have all made mistakes, every single member of the human race. He died for ALL of them and He loves ALL of us. There is no greater hope than to be found in the book of John where Jesus invites us to believe on HIM and receive eternal life. In John 6:47 He says ‘ Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. In verse 35 of the same chapter He says, ‘I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME SHALL NEVER THIRST.’
We are living in dangerous times, but today is the day of salvation. God has made a way for us to spend eternity with Him. We are all sinners, the Bible states this fact in Romans 3:23, ‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. There is a punishment for sin before a Holy God, and this is an eternity separated form Him in a place called the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:11 states ‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.’ ‘But God , WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US, even when we were dead in our sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved; And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God: Not of works , lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:4-9. This gift is available to all, but we must do one thing, Believe on His name. In other words, trust Him, put your faith in Him alone to save you.
No matter what happens in this world, Jesus gives us this hope. It is a hope for all and will unify all who come and take of the water freely that Jesus Christ has offered. Will ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ come, yes. But we have a way of escape and a tremendous blessing, even eternal life with our Saviour if we will take Him at His word.
Sarah Hopkins Art 