January 3, 2019
Dear friends,
Can you believe it? We are only one year away from the year 2020! Although those numbers might conjure up thoughts of eye charts and hindsight, they also represent a time that seemed so far away when I was growing up. 1984 also seemed like it was a long way off when I read the George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair) classic in high school. At that time, another book by a British writer entitled “Brave New World” captured the imaginations of many. This week, Karen and I have been watching some television series, including one set in Los Angeles, featuring police officers fighting crime. In one episode, a young woman tells her parents that “It’s a brave new world” in reference to relationships and choices that the Bible calls sinful. In reflecting on this, I believe that the Bible is more up-to-date than today’s newspaper (which may not be available in printed form for many more years).
In his book “Where I Am” the late Dr. Billy Graham writes: “Greater than the enemy outside is the enemy within – sin. Every major civilization before us has disintegrated and collapsed from internal forces rather than military conquest. Ancient Rome is the outstanding example of the fall of a mighty civilization. While its disintegration was hastened by foreign invasions, in the opinion of a well-known archaeologist, it collapsed ‘only after bribery and corruption had been rife for generations.’” Despite many amazing inventions, advances in technology, and improvements in health care, we live in a world that is not what God intended for mankind. Poor choices, beginning with Adam and Eve listening to the devil’s lies rather than God’s truth, have resulted in misery and mayhem.
There is good news, however. God loved us so much that He provided a way for us to experience an abundant life, filled with peace and joy. The Scriptures reveal God’s plan from Genesis to Revelation. Dr. Graham now knows the reality of the words of Jesus, as cited below. According to an online poll taken in 2017, the majority of Canadians are “people of faith to one degree or another.” To see the results of this poll, please visit: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadians-may-be-vacating-the-pews-but-they-are-keeping-the-faith-poll. The question that must be asked is: “Do you know how to get to heaven?” Someone has said that you have to go only 18 inches or half a metre – the distance involved in bending your knee to the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving Him as your Saviour.
Last week, Christians around the world remembered the birth of Jesus. It will be a few months before the calendar indicates the arrival of Easter (April 21st this year), but now is a good time to consider why Jesus came to Earth. He was born to die for our sins. Jesus did not remain in the grave, though. He rose triumphantly and offers spiritual life to all who place their faith in Him.
Scripture for the weekend: “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 (NASB)
Thought for the weekend: “The main reason that I believe the Bible is true is precisely because I believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Now whether or not you agree with me about the resurrection, you can probably see why believing that would quickly and strongly lead me to trust the Bible. If Jesus really was raised from the dead, then the only possible, intellectually honest conclusion one can reach is that he really is who he claimed to be … the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Way, the Truth, the Life and the Wisdom of God, just like he said.” – Greg Gilbert (from his book “Why Trust the Bible?”)
By His grace,
Steve