Ecclesiastes 1:9
What
has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing
new under the sun.
When
I was young, I would read the Bible and wonder how it applied to me. The
stories were interesting, even exciting, but they didn’t seem to connect with
where I was living. The things the Bible talked about seemed to come from
another world. I don’t think that way anymore. More and more, the things the
Bible talks about are being acted out in this present world. I am experiencing
the scriptures in real time.
Many
of the recent events we have experienced could have been taken right out of the
pages of the Bible. The recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage
reflects the moral and spiritual decay that Paul wrote about on Romans 1.
The
wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be
known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For
since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power
and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been
made, so that men are without excuse.
For
although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to
him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although
they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and
reptiles.
Therefore
God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for
the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God
for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who
is forever praised. Amen.
Because
of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged
natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned
natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men
committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due
penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore,
since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave
them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become
filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full
of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,
insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey
their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although
they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,
they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who
practice them. Romans 1:18-32
A
number of years ago, I was involved in a debate with an atheist that took place
at MSU. This passage came up in the midst of the debate, and my opponent mocked
it. “That is not the world I live in.” Yet, Paul describes exactly the world in
which we all live.
The
recent natural disasters we have witnessed point us back to the book of
Revelation. It is hard not to see the things Revelation talks about coming true
before our eyes. We are living the scriptures in real time. The question before
us is, how do we respond to our times?
Jesus
was clear about our posture in the face of unfolding history; be alert, be
prepared and be ready. In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us some insights into His
return and what we should do to prepare.
Matthew 24:36-47
"No one knows about that day or hour,
not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in
the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the
days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what
would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will
be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be
taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will
be taken and the other left.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do
not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of
the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have
kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be
ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
"Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to
give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose
master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put
him in charge of all his possessions.
First,
He tells us that no one knows the time when the Son will return, so we can
dispense with our elaborate schemes to set a date. Second, we should be alert
to the signs of the times. Although we cannot know when Christ will return, we
need to be alert to what is going on around us. Third, Jesus tells us to be
busy doing what He has called us to do. The very best way to be ready for
Christ’s return is to actively serve Him, using whatever gifts He has given to
us, for His glory.
As
the days get darker, we may be tempted to withdraw into our relatively safe
enclaves. This is the very thing we cannot do. We have been called to be salt
in a decaying world and light in a dark world. We are needed more than ever in
the public forum. We may not be able to change the world, but we can make a
difference for eternity for one other person. It is by sharing the love of
Christ, which we have experienced, with others, that we can make a significant
difference in our world.
Paul
lived in very difficult times, yet he didn’t give in to bitterness, fear, or
anger. Instead, he faithfully shared the good news about Jesus. His advice to
us is to take the high road; endure hardship, love others, and glorify God.
Romans 12:17-21
Do not repay
anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If
it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do
not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the
contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his
head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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