Today the worst earthquake in Japan ’s history followed by a giant tsunami has hit the country. We still do not know the extent of the devastation and loss of life and likely will not for days. Because this is a technically advanced country, we have television images of the disaster – pictures of the tsunami and of trucks and cars and boats rolling along carried by the tsunami.
Earthquakes are one of the signs of the impending end of this age and the coming return of Jesus, as those who red the Bible and follow our ministry know. We have had an extraordinary number of devastating such events in the last few years.
It should be noted that Japan is overwhelmingly not filled with Christians. There is a very small percentage of believers in Jesus there, although that number has been reported to be on the rise.
I usually do not make this point, but it is time to make it – please notice that the greatest natural disasters in history have occurred in non-Christian nations. So here is my point – I believe the US and Europe too may have been spared such giant disasters in the past by the intercession of the number of true believers in Jesus who have lived in these areas.
But now Europe has a very small percentage of Christians. And the US steadily has been falling away, with much of its formal/organized religion only having a form of godliness but denying its power.
God called me long ago to “tell people who he is and that he is coming soon.” Well, I cannot pass by this moment without warning people that HE IS COMING SOON! Time to make sure you really do know him, that you are living in the right relationship with him.
We all should pray for the Japanese people. We also should pray for ourselves and all those we know, that all who do not know Jesus would be drawn by the Father to Jesus.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
OBSERVATIONS ON TODAY'S WORLD
Before God called me in such a dramatic fashion many years ago, I worked and traveled in and through many countries. Most of those places were what we might today call third-world or developing. Some were not developing at all. As I went to several of the countries in the Middle East, for example, I remember seeing and telling others that the people there were held back by their own religion. I didn’t know how true that was then, but of course it is obviously true. Following a false god, believing incorrect things, is disaster for humans. So too is taking harmful actions against Israel (remember God’s words - I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you). And all the strange and unpleasant restrictions placed on people in Islam, especially women, are just that, strange and unpleasant.
But then all these Muslims are lost and will stay that way until they realize who Jesus is and accept him as their Lord. That does happen, usually with great pressure on Muslims making the conversion, often with the need to get away from where they are, often with resulting persecution, even sometimes death. I heard at a missions meeting back in the mid-1990’s of how Jesus had been appearing in dreams/visions to some Muslims, even Muslim religious leaders, leading of course to conversions of those people. Some in the mission field call that a power play. It certainly is, isn’t it! That continues. I don’t know how many have received such power plays, but it has happened and is happening.
In a similar way, when I was in many of the sub-Saharan African nations I experienced the wretched poverty of the areas and saw the results of corrupt governments and just lack of funds and lack of knowledge and education. A question that frequently came up was what it will take to get Africans out of this, referring of course to the economic level and quality of life. The answer should be obvious – knowledge of and faith in God. They needed true Christian leaders who would not be corrupt. All the people themselves needed to know Jesus, to know the truths of the Bible, to know how to go forward in living and applying the truths of the Bible.
I remember at one program in the US when I mentioned something about God’s provision, perhaps the verse that God provides all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus, a woman sarcastically said, “tell that to the Africans!” But she missed the point. All that God wants people to have will not come to them unless they know him, unless they accept Jesus as Lord, unless they know the various truths and principles in the Bible and actually apply them to their daily lives. That has now begun to happen, with really great changes afoot. Some giant missionary efforts have brought great numbers coming to Christ, and Africa like China is at least in some areas a hotbed of new and serious Christians.
But then all these Muslims are lost and will stay that way until they realize who Jesus is and accept him as their Lord. That does happen, usually with great pressure on Muslims making the conversion, often with the need to get away from where they are, often with resulting persecution, even sometimes death. I heard at a missions meeting back in the mid-1990’s of how Jesus had been appearing in dreams/visions to some Muslims, even Muslim religious leaders, leading of course to conversions of those people. Some in the mission field call that a power play. It certainly is, isn’t it! That continues. I don’t know how many have received such power plays, but it has happened and is happening.
In a similar way, when I was in many of the sub-Saharan African nations I experienced the wretched poverty of the areas and saw the results of corrupt governments and just lack of funds and lack of knowledge and education. A question that frequently came up was what it will take to get Africans out of this, referring of course to the economic level and quality of life. The answer should be obvious – knowledge of and faith in God. They needed true Christian leaders who would not be corrupt. All the people themselves needed to know Jesus, to know the truths of the Bible, to know how to go forward in living and applying the truths of the Bible.
I remember at one program in the US when I mentioned something about God’s provision, perhaps the verse that God provides all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus, a woman sarcastically said, “tell that to the Africans!” But she missed the point. All that God wants people to have will not come to them unless they know him, unless they accept Jesus as Lord, unless they know the various truths and principles in the Bible and actually apply them to their daily lives. That has now begun to happen, with really great changes afoot. Some giant missionary efforts have brought great numbers coming to Christ, and Africa like China is at least in some areas a hotbed of new and serious Christians.
GOD'S PROVISION FOR A VICTORIOUS LIFE
The commands, the promises, the rules given in the Bible are not there because God wants to be harsh on people or because he wants them to have a hard time. No, God knows the behaviors that will bring hardship and heartbreak, and he has given us there truths of his kingdom that will enable us to avoid such behaviors if they are obeyed and followed in our actions. Sadly, most people have either not known the Bible at all or have treated it as a general guidebook or an interesting ancient book kept on a table. But the Bible is full of God’s truths, and also warnings about what is to come. It was written by God through people as a gift to people. It is not a guidebook. It is the policy manual and the book of laws for the Kingdom of God. You could say also it is the policy manual and the book of laws for a truly successful life now and in that Kingdom. One more point - these truths and promises of God work if they are actually applied to your life, if you actually act on them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)