Do you think that because the gospel is spreading and we are victorious, that sin will always abound, or will it decrease??? Will this curse that is upon us always remain, is there no relief in sight??? If mankind is to continue on, technology will continue to increase. Will these advances make us better or do you feel that we will find more vile things that amuse us to keep us busy???"
I believe that people are born and people die. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. God is the providential population Controller. He brings famine, disease, natural catastrophes, wars and tumults. 1/3 of the population of Europe was destroyed by the Black Plague in the early part of this millennium. 850,000 were killed in the 1556 earthquake in the Shanghai province of China. Two million were killed in world war two. 13 million were killed under Stalin and 6 million under Hitler. 30 million have been slaughtered under the tyrannical, infanticidal rule of the United States government since the early 70's. God is very equipped to control population. This world continues. Depravity is the same. And yet the Gospel remains unchanged in effect and power. Christ is not only the Ruler over the physical realm, but since He ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high, He has been the ruler over the spiritual realm as well. If you really want to understand the way this world works in it's natural process under the providence of God, Ecclesiastes has the answers:
Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. {5} The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. {6} The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. {7} All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.Read that last verse. The same can be applied to the world. People are continually born but the world is never full. Just as water evaporates, so men turn to dust.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. {10} Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. {11} There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.There is no curse upon Christians according to the Bible (Galatians 3:10-13), and you know that. Though it certainly does not look that way to me. Again, where are my affections?
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.If I am constantly riveted upon the agonies of this life (which there are many to be sure), then how can I perceive and enjoy the kingdom of God? I have a signature verse that I always include at the end of my posts. It reads:
Psalms 145:11-13 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; {12} To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. {13} Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.That is a New Covenant prophetic Psalm. So do we speak of the glory of His kingdom and talk of His power, or do we speak of the shame of the world and talk of its weakness? On which is our focus?
And should you begin to think that I have this mastered... I don't. In fact I, more than anyone on this list, probably knows what is true and yet I practice it less than anyone. But the more I focus on what I am not doing, the more I am not focusing on what God is doing and is able to do. If my eyes are looking at an accident on the side of the road to see all the blood and guts and carnage (which most of us love to see for some reason), then it is very likely that eventually I am going to be a part of that blood and guts carnage when I wreck into the guy in front of me who stopped to see that carnage too. Thus, I kill him and myself and contribute to the carnage of this world. I think it is best to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, looking straight ahead that we may swerve to miss the guy who stopped, and while passing we had better tell him to keep his eyes on the road cause he is holding people up. That is what we are doing too often with preterism. We are regressing into the side shows of life instead of seeing the brightness of Christ as that Light of the world.
Proverbs 4:25-27 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. {26} Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. {27} Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.I wish I had followed this all my life, especially since I have come to understand more of the kingdom of God. But I have not, and consequently I have held up traffic. Every day I long to focus on Christ. Do you remember this hymn?
Turn your eyes upon JesusHow many times I have sung that and yet it meant absolutely nothing. Notice it says the things of earth grow *strangely* dim. Isn't it amazing that for those of us who love the kingdom of God, the things of earth have grown strangely bright? Is it possible that we really do have more baggage than we thought? Oh sure, when we continually long for a rapture escapte, the things of earth don't bother us as much. However, with this extraordinarily tremendous revelation of the kingdom of God, we have become enamoured with the things of earth. But the hymn says those things will grow strangely dim. Why strangely? Because what, for all humanistic intents and purposes, should be bright and overwhelming suddenly means nothing because we are fixed upon Christ--"Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith...Consider Him, who for the joy set before Him endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself...Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession...we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall *reign in life* by one, Jesus Christ...I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus...whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God...But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ...For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ...that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh...that ye through His poverty might be rich."
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Yes, I know what it says. Is it always mine? Yes. Do I always think on these things? Sadly I do not.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.As a believer in the kingdom of God, I have sometimes experienced more pessimism than while I was a dispensationalist. Something happened. I know exactly what it was! I was too focused on God redeeming this physical planet. I was addicted to that thought and always lived with that hope.
I see the decline of western civilization particularly here in America. How can this be...this country upheld as one founded upon Christian principles? We have lived as if America was the greatest Christian country ever. Yet it has only been around for 200+ years... a drop in the bucket of human history...and we have trusted it's almighty technological ingenuity to project us into the new millennium with more thrust than we have ever seen.
Suppose we have forgotten God. Even modern evangelicalism has in essence forgotten God:
Psalms 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.No one teaches these things anymore. We react to the empirical *testimony* around us as if that proves God is not ruling. Quite the contrary: because of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it makes the providence and supreme authority of God that much more eminent.Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Daniel 4:30-31 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? {31} While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
May God give us mouths to speak of His kingdom and talk of His power and to make known His mighty acts and the glorious majesty of His kingdom...if in fact we truly believe it.
Psalms 145:11-13 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; {12} To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. {13} Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.