Aches and Praise Four Hundred & Forty Four

March 13, 2020
 
 
Dear friends,    
                                                                                                                      

There is an expression “History repeats itself.” That came to my mind when I heard that one hundred and one years ago, the Stanley Cup final, scheduled to conclude on April 1, 1919 with a winner-take-all tilt between the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, was cancelled. Yesterday, Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, issued the following statement:  “The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus – and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point – it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.”

On March 10, Brian Heater posted this on the Internet: “Last week, Google sent out a memo to staff recommending that Washington State-based employees work remotely, in order to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Today, the suggestion has been dramatically expanded, in line with the spread of the virus. A new note from the company recommends similar action for employees across North America.” – https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/10/google-expands-work-from-home-recommendation-to-all-north-american-employees-establishes-covid-19-fund/

Watching news reports yesterday brought to mind what it will be like when Christians are taken in what is known as “the rapture of the church.” What will reporters say? That search and rescue teams are looking for aliens who abducted people all over the world? In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah writes: “Three Greek words are used in the New Testament to refer to the Second Coming; Paul uses all three in his letters to the Thessalonians … Each of these Greek words conveys a different aspect of the Second Coming. Christ’s presence (parousia) will be personal, His revelation (apokalupsis) will be mighty, and His appearance (epiphaneia) will be glorious. The splendor of this event is captured in John’s own vision of the glorious Christ (Rev. 1:12-16) and His second coming to earth (Rev. 19:11-16) in the book of Revelation.”

Dr. Jeremiah continues: “Even though it has been nearly 2,000 years since Christ’s first coming, His second coming is certain. The testimony of Christ’s own words (Matt. 24:30) tells us that Jesus will return to balance the scales of justice, gather His people to Himself in His kingdom, and establish His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. It is not a question of whether every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord – it is only a matter of when (Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10).”

With many people in self-quarantine, may this be a time when they read the Bible and put their faith in the One who declared “I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NKJV)

Scripture for the weekend: “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Revelation 1:17-18 (NKJV)                                                                                       

Thought for the weekend: “I am willing to go anywhere provided it is forward.” – David Livingstone, missionary doctor and explorer (from Franklin Graham’s book “The Name”)

 

By His grace,
 
Steve                                

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