That is so true Richard. I have been trying to steer my "choosing" towards responding, and away from reacting. I still have a ways to go!
Thank you for the "howdy", Bobbie. I agree that keeping our faith walk simple is key. I remember an old gent, who was a very humble and quiet man. He was not educated or wealthy, and became a Christian late in life. I only heard Frank pray aloud one time. His simple prayer was "God is love". Keep It Simple Saint, is new to me. Thanks!
Welcome Joe, I am fairly new to the forum...careful, it can be addicting. Based on my knowledge of the Bible, no one knows the day nor the hour when the "Son of Man" shall return but to answer the question, I do believe we are closing in on our final days on this planet. Just turn on the news a couple of nights per week and try to digest what's happening in the world. War, rumors of wars, disease, hatred, evil, planet changes, lack of love for humans by humans, politicians (oops...did I just say that). The time we live in speaks for itself! I am not a Bible scholar by any means but I do believe the Word of God and understand that, that which is in the Book of Revelations is quickly coming to past. I don't sit around waiting for impending doom but I try to stay aware of what's going on around me. I somewhat agree with the post that states things have gotten better for some cultures but at what cost. Evil still manages to show it's destructive and ugly face and it will continue to do so until Jesus returns. For those who do not believe as I do I apologize ahead of time if this offends you however I prefer to believe rather than take the chance in dying and not believing.
Maybe yes, maybe no. It's too hard to guess, and I think that it's better being it a mystery, so we can live peacefully without worrying about such. If we really knew when our world would come to an end we really would will in a stress and keep counting the days out of it.
Hi Sheryll! I feel that all of the things you mention have been happening for thousands of years. Why we think the are something new is that we now have the media, such as television and especially the internet to "advertise" them.
I don't think about death or the world ending. I figured long ago just as I had no control over being born I equally have no control over dying. We all get to check out sometime. Sure we can make some plans that may extend or shorten our life span, but no matter how you slice it one day our time will come. Sounds pretty bleak don't it? I think for me once I let go the whole dying concept it was much easier to get on living. I have a deep appreciation for the world, nature and all of it's cycles. To me it is the little things that matter. I don't care about mansions, money or things like that, I would rather watch the stars shine in the night sky. I have noticed as I have grown older that less is really better, there is something truly freeing about that. Modern times are stressful, and if there is one thing I can control in this world it is how much stress I want to deal with. Simple is okay by me.
Hello Joe, Actually, I believe you're correct these things have been happening for years except for maybe the disintegration of the planet. With that being said, do you think at some point God is going to get tired of our disobedience?
Hi Sheryll! No problem calling me Joe! In my 69 years I have been called many names! That is a tough question for me to answer as I don't envision God as a human looking deity but more as a higher power that I am unable to describe or even perceive. If He is indeed tired of us, then he will probably make the end come, but I am sure that He will just let us go on about with our nonsense and perhaps someday we (collectively) will get our act together.
There's nothing wrong with being called Joe. I have know the Lord Jesus as my Savior for fifty years, and have lived with God's love and Word in my life every day. His Spirit is in me and my hope is in the Lord. Even though we do not know the day, the signs are many, and unlike any time in the past. Sin has always been around, but like labor pains and contractions increase in number and intensity, as the birth approaches, so do the signs of Christ's return. The Bible is very clear on this. The empty cross is full of hope!
We are for sure in the days leading up to the return of Christ. In these times the Bible tells us that there will be an increase in knowledge, a falling away from biblical truth, increased persecution of Christians, evil continually, marrying and giving in marriage (look how much marriage is in the news with the gay vs. traditional issue), an increase in lawlessness, and as you have said, calling evil good, and good evil. But it is going to get a whole lot worse. The Bible teaches that there is coming a time of 7 years of tribulation upon the world "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." Matthew 24:21 John Clark, writer with tblfaithnews.com
It doesn't have to be "bleak", Jenn. Christians who have made a conscience decision to accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior(not being religious or going to church), and take the Bible for what it says, have an eternal hope in heaven in the presence of God. There IS a real heaven, and you, as well as anyone else who puts their faith and trust in Jesus, the only religious leader who literally and physically rose from the dead, can know for sure that your eternity will be spent in his presence, because He conquered death! I John 5:11-13 says, "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life." What is incredible to me is how many seniors in their later years, give little or no attention as to what will happen after their passing from this earthly life.
Hello Jonathan, perhaps the answer to your query is that many of already know what is going to happen to us in our next life and do not need to pay "loud" attention.
Jonathan, I am reminded of Jonathan Edwards thoughts that Natural men are God’s enemies. http://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/enemies.htm
That is an interesting answer, Richard, that is probably true with a lot of people. This brings up another question. Many people believe that they are going to heaven, but what source do they base it on? Do they have a confident assurance that they are? Jesus is quoted as saying in John 14:2, "...I am going to prepare a place for you." That place is a real heaven. In I John 5:11-13 it says, "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."