So today's the day. Harold Camping, a Christian radio host, says today is judgment day. This evening at 6:00 the rapture will take place. He and his faithful listeners have spent $100 million to get the word out, and now they wait out the hours, while the world laughs at them.
How I wish he was right. I would be thrilled to think that within the next 12 hours, we'll be home with Jesus. I'd love to know that before the day is over, sin and death would be no more - no more tears, no more sorrow. But scripture doesn't tell me that. From my own reading of scripture, I fully expect to wake up tomorrow morning here in Ohio for another day of life, and that's OK.
I'm reminded of a song by the Christian band White Heart. 20 years ago they sang a song that said, "Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, that's not the question for me...no matter how long, I'm going to follow the Maker of all eternity." Would I love to see Jesus come back today? Absolutely! But does it matter if it's today, tomorrow, or 100 years from now? Not really. It's in His hands. I guess what that means for me is that I need to live every day for Jesus, not worrying about whether today's the day or not. We'll see Him eventually. But for today, I get to live with the knowledge of His presence, walking and talking with Him, even if it's not yet face to face. I get to enjoy the joy of His salvation, the wonder of His grace, and the hope for greater things yet to come - in His time.
As you read this, please pray for Mr. Camping and his listeners. They're in for a very real disappointment today, followed by discouragement tomorrow. Pray for comfort and strength for them, and pray that they would find the truth in Scripture - that what matters is not when, but that they are living in Jesus every day.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Death of bin Laden
Let me start by saying how very thankful and grateful I am to the men and women of our military. Every day they put their lives on the line to protect us and our country. So, Thank You for all you do!
I heard the news last night that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Immediately Facebook lit up with people expressing their thoughts - some celebrating, some concerned for what happens next. A number of people have questioned whether or not this is something that we, as Christians, should be celebrating. Do we rejoice over the death of someone, even if they are terrorists?
If we want answers as Christians, we have to start with the Bible. Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked. So I would have to imagine that He's not up in Heaven waving the stars and stripes, and shouting "USA! USA!" I imagine that the death of any of His children brings Him great sadness, even those who have chosen a life of evil.
This is balanced, however, by the fact that those who bring oppression and destruction to innocent people are brought to justice in scripture. It was God's working to use David to kill Goliath. Don't you imagine the Israelites rejoiced and celebrated when that happened?
So the celebration is not in death, but in the removal of evil, and the person who has chosen to side with evil - to the point of exercising evil on others. If people want to celebrate that, personally, I'm OK with that. But I say that carefully, recognizing that I myself choose evil far too often. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone..."
For me, it ultimately comes down to this...we live in a world of sin, pain, war, and death. I wish we didn't. But as long as we do, war is part of our lives, a very real part of our reality. Knowing this, I realize that sometimes this means killing the enemy. I don't like the fact that war happens, but in time of war, this was the right decision to make. I celebrate our freedom, I celebrate the men and women of the military who make it possible.
But the real celebration is yet to come. I look forward to the day we will celebrate the end of wars, pain, death, and all that is evil in the world. However you choose to observe the events of the last 24 hours, I hope it makes us yearn for the day when this will all be over forever, and we will enjoy life eternal, the peace of Christ, forever in His presence. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
I heard the news last night that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Immediately Facebook lit up with people expressing their thoughts - some celebrating, some concerned for what happens next. A number of people have questioned whether or not this is something that we, as Christians, should be celebrating. Do we rejoice over the death of someone, even if they are terrorists?
If we want answers as Christians, we have to start with the Bible. Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked. So I would have to imagine that He's not up in Heaven waving the stars and stripes, and shouting "USA! USA!" I imagine that the death of any of His children brings Him great sadness, even those who have chosen a life of evil.
This is balanced, however, by the fact that those who bring oppression and destruction to innocent people are brought to justice in scripture. It was God's working to use David to kill Goliath. Don't you imagine the Israelites rejoiced and celebrated when that happened?
So the celebration is not in death, but in the removal of evil, and the person who has chosen to side with evil - to the point of exercising evil on others. If people want to celebrate that, personally, I'm OK with that. But I say that carefully, recognizing that I myself choose evil far too often. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone..."
For me, it ultimately comes down to this...we live in a world of sin, pain, war, and death. I wish we didn't. But as long as we do, war is part of our lives, a very real part of our reality. Knowing this, I realize that sometimes this means killing the enemy. I don't like the fact that war happens, but in time of war, this was the right decision to make. I celebrate our freedom, I celebrate the men and women of the military who make it possible.
But the real celebration is yet to come. I look forward to the day we will celebrate the end of wars, pain, death, and all that is evil in the world. However you choose to observe the events of the last 24 hours, I hope it makes us yearn for the day when this will all be over forever, and we will enjoy life eternal, the peace of Christ, forever in His presence. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
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