While we don't know when, we should always be looking up, for one day our Redeemer will return!

Hello and welcome back. It is Monday, May 23, 2011. The world as we know it was supposed to come to an end last Saturday. This was according to a preacher fellow who has made false predictions before. He should be glad that he didn't live at the time of the Old Testament Prophets. They were held to a pretty high level of accountability. God instructed his people to judge a prophet's prediction by its validity. If it was from Him it would be just like He had given it to His spokesperson. If it was not from Him and the prediction did not come to pass, then that prophet was to be taken out and stoned until he was dead. I'm sure this fellow will be glad to know that he will not have this fate awaiting him, at least not at this time. He will still face God and give an account for his handling of His word including these different predictions he has made over the years. Now, don't get me wrong. I can't blame people for looking around and wondering about the times we are living in. For those of us who read and study our Bibles, we know that Israel is one of the keys to God's plan and the return of Jesus. A number of years ago during the Clinton administration, I took note of the fact that for the first time ever our nation voted against Israel at the United Nations. It had never happened before. I told my class way back then that in order for there to be a second time, there first had to be a first time. Since breaking the ice with that vote there has been a slow and steady decline in our nation's support of Israel. Last Thursday, our President, in his major address on the middle east, pretty much through Israel under the bus. In a move that he called necessary to bridge the gap with the Muslim world, he essentially put his support behind those in Palestine who celebrated the death of Bin Laden as a faithful warrior and honored martyr. That first baby step made at the direction of President Clinton many years ago started this process that may well reflect the truths we read about when the nations of the world will unite against tiny Israel. (If you didn't see the Israeli Prime Minister's response to President Obama's absurd comments, then you need to find them and watch them or read them. I never thought I would live to see our nation taking such a stand against the only true democracy in the region.)

You may have read that first paragraph and wondered if I was trying to splash some cold water in your face. Not really. I continue to practice that little ditty picked up from the legendary Yogi Berra, "You can observe a lot just by watching." Yogi might not know it, but his little statement is very much in keeping with God's instructions to those of us who are His very own. Throughout His Word He has told us to be observant and our Savior had much to say about those days that we generally call the end times. He said on a number of occasions, "When you see,"  and then He filled in the events and activities that were to be looked for. Of course there are literally hundreds of different opinions, interpretations, and differences in the way that scholars handle the end times passages. I contend that the end times officially started immediately following the ascension of our Savior back into heaven. The angel told his followers that He would return in the same way He had left them. The early believers lived as if His return was imminent. Some had to be corrected because they had quit their jobs and were just sitting around waiting for Him to come. I am only pointing out that they had an earnest expectation and anticipation of the return of their Lord. That is a healthy perspective and one that we should have today as we continue on in living out our lives. Where is the balance? I think the Apostle Paul had it about right. He said if it was up to him, he would go on to glory immediately, but God's will was what counted, and Paul believed God had more work for him to do here on the planet. You can read about this in his letter to the Phillippians, Chapter 1. Look up and expect Him at anytime, while also living each day to its fullest in order to honor Him and serve others. That my friend is excellent advice even if it did come from me.

I know. I know. There are plenty of folks who think these decisions being made that impact our support of Israel are very rational, and they make sense in the immediate context. I can see how folks can see it that way. That is why I have always said that all the events that will end up triggering the Lord's return may fit into that type of logic. It will have seemed to be the pragmatic decisions at that time. Just like the China story I wrote about one day last week. Having less expensive goods and services under the guise of free trade made a lot of sense to a lot of people forty years ago when the ice was first broken. We even give great credit to President Richard Nixon and President George H. W. Bush for their opening of the door into China. Made a lot of sense. It was good for us to have these cheaper goods. Now they own the largest portion of our debt. Now they are responsible through their cheap labor for the demise of many of our industries. We are responsible for providing them with the wealth needed to make them one of the most formidable powers in the world today. It all made sense at the time. That's the problem with human reasoning. In much the same way, I believe the world will make decisions that make sense at the time based on consensus and in doing so the very events and circumstances our Savior spoke about will come to fruition. I am not a date setter but I am a believer in the One who will usher in the culmination of all things. I say, Amen and Amen. May God bless each one.  See you next time.           ......More later.