1 Blindness to the signs of the end of the age. When we take the time to observe the events taking place around us we cannot help but be convinced that there is looming in the not too distant future, cataclysmic events, events that will have a profound effect on humanity at large. With the increase of destructive physical phenomena along with the ongoing economic and social collapse of world economies the near future state of this world is very bleak indeed. Strangely for the most part people seem to be oblivious to the signs pointing to impending disaster. They, in keeping with bible prophecy will live out their lives with the view that all will continue as it is today even though throughout the world a downward spiral is clearly evident. Luke 17:26-29 26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. The concept held by the people of the world at large is that there are no consuming end time disasters upon the horizon. They take the view that that all things have been as they are from the time of creation and that nothing that gives testimony to God s intervention can be seen. For God s people however there is an avalanche of evidence to the working of the creator. The world however is deliberately oblivious to this evidence. 2Peter 3:1-6 1. This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 2. That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. 5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: You will note that this text points out that their ignorance is a matter of choice a point also put forward by Paul Romans chapter one. Romans 1:28 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; In 1912 the great ship Titanic was considered by many to be unsinkable. No doubt many of the passengers who travelled on that fateful voyage were of this opinion, totally convinced, that there was nothing that could stop them from completing their voyage to America. The supposed invincibility of the ship lulled the makers, the crew and the passengers into a false sense of security. History records that it was this false sense of security that made the crew careless, contributing to the ignoring of warning signs and the avoidable catastrophe that was to follow.
3 Such is also the case with the impending judgments that are to come upon the world. The world at large has been convinced that there is No God and therefore has no interest in the warnings that are written in the bible. An interesting case in point was the recent news report from Victoria in which it was reported that parents and educators were outraged that religious instruction in the schools included those teachings that Christ is alive and can be your friend. Offence was also taken to the belief by this organization that the homosexual alternate lifestyle was not acceptable to God. As a result, there is a move to have the Christian organization undertaking the work kicked out of the schools. At the same time the usage of the witchcraft books headed by the Harry Potter series is considered academically beneficial. When man rejects God he takes away the prime restraint that tends to put a brake upon the wicked hearts of men. As a result all imaginable evils will be present throughout the world. It is clearly evident to the aware observer that the no God philosophy held by the majority is accompanied by a self destroying growth in moral and ethical decay. Sadly, at the same time, there is denial of the natural sinful tendency of the human heart. Genesis 8:21 21. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; Jeremiah 17:9 9. The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? The wise of this world attribute antisocial behavior to medical conditions, endeavoring to control it by drugs and counseling. The bible makes it very clear as
4 to where the problem lies, that being corruption that resides naturally in the hearts of men and women. Romans 1:24-32 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Note in verse 32 the awareness of the reasonableness of judgment due upon wickedness and yet, men deliberately and gleefully become engaged in sinful practices. It is difficult in this day and age to find (particularly in Western societies) people who are sensitive to the Records in the Word of God. They are blind.
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