Much has happened since last month’s newsletter where I talked about what is to be the response of the righteous in the face of advancing wickedness. We are now in the middle of a war that will have ramifications for years to come. Much of the Muslim world is more hostile towards the United States. What does all this mean? Where are we headed as Christians? Kelly and I are excited by the Bible Study that we are planning on the Day of the Lord. There is no more important subject that will help us to see how we are to live and what our true hope is.
You see we do not know what will be the ramifications of this war, but we do know who is in control of the movement and flow of history. Because he has given us a good idea of what is coming in the future. We should never be discouraged by the events that are taking place all around us because of our hope that is in Jesus Christ who will ultimately conquer. Even if the towers fall and all is lost we know that our future is guaranteed because of Jesus Christ. They can take our lives but they can never harm our souls.
I like the way Paul captures this truth in Romans 8:18 where he writes, “yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us latter” (NLT) When we see all that God has planned for us everything that we suffer in this life will all seem so insignificant. God has planned something so wonderful but he has called us to serve him in this age. In the following verse Paul so beautifully captures what we are living with when he “20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God’s curse. 21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (NLT) Even the Creation is looking forward to our liberation as the children of God, and so should we.
When we see things like disease and war, and famine they are part of the brokenness of this age that Christ came to overcome. The hope of the second coming gives us the hope of the final liberation of the creation. In fact our Lord Jesus told us to look for them and expect them before his coming. Don’t be discouraged. Be looking up with a hopeful spirit. I am looking forward to studying prophecy with you in Bible Study this month.
Hoping with you in Christ,
Pastor Steven Wenner
