Are These the End Times?

(ABP) -- Japan's prime minister calls the March 11 earthquake and tsunami his country's worst crisis since World War II. More than 12,000 are dead or missing, a number which will continue to grow. Nuclear reactors have been damaged catastrophically. It will take years for the world's third-largest economy to recover fully.
Add the tragedy in Japan to the ongoing revolution in the Arab world and global economic distress, and people begin asking if these are the "end times." What did Jesus predict? Are his prophecies coming to fulfillment in our day?
It was Tuesday of Holy Week. After Jesus predicted the destruction of Herod's massive temple (Matthew 24:1-2), his disciples asked him, "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (v. 3). Jesus responded with six "signs," each of which has been fulfilled to a remarkable degree in the last century:
False religions would "deceive many" (v. 5). The 20th century witnessed a significant rise in the popularity of world religions and alternative spiritualities.
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars" (v. 6). More than 39 million people died in World War I, 51 million in World War II, and 16 million in the 150 wars since. The 20th century was the bloodiest in history.
"There will be famines" (v. 7). More than 70 million people died in famines during the 20th century, the most ever.
"There will be earthquakes" (v. 7). The National Earthquake Information Center tells us that the number of quakes is not increasing today, but they are far more catastrophic as populations in earthquake zones escalate.
"You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death" (v. 9). More than 25 million Christians died for their faith in the first 19 centuries after Christ; more than 45 million have died for Jesus in the 20th century.
"This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (v. 14). Communication technology will soon make it possible to reach the entire planet's population with the gospel.
Do these facts indicate that we are in the "end times"? Yes and no.
Jesus was clear: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (v. 36). No human should claim to know more than Jesus. The Lord could delay his return by a decade, a century, or a millennium. At the same time, Jesus taught us to be prepared for him to return today: "keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42). We are one day closer to eternity than ever before in human history.
In biblical terms, we have been living in the "last days" for 20 centuries. According to the Jewish worldview, the "former days" would precede the Messiah; the "last days" would follow his ministry on earth. And so John could write, "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18).
For 20 centuries, Christians have been awaiting our Lord's return. If we live each day as though it were our last, one day we'll be right. And each day we'll make Jesus our Lord and King.
Consider one of my favorite paragraphs by C. S. Lewis:
 "The Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in'; aim at earth and you will get neither."

At what are you aiming today?
- Jim Denton, Associated Baptist Press

Gospel Gold by Jerry Bridges

"I believe that one of the chief characteristics of our sinful nature, or 'flesh' as it is called in most Bible translations, is an attitude of independence toward God. Even when we know and agree that we are dependent on Him, we tend out of habit to act independently.... Undoubtedly, one of the reasons God allows us to fall before temptation so often is to teach us experientially that we really are dependent on Him to enable us to grow in holiness.
One of the best ways, apart from those painful experiences of failure, to learn dependence is to develop the discipline of prayer. This forces us in a tangible way to acknowledge our dependence on the Holy Spirit. This is true because, for whatever else we may say about prayer, it is a recognition of our own helplessness and absolute dependence on God.
It is this admission of helplessness and dependence that is so repugnant to our sinful spirit of self-sufficiency. And if we are naturally prone by temperament to be disciplined, it is even more difficult to acknowledge that we are dependent on Christ and His Spirit instead of our own self-discipline."
--Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace

Ides of March

From Wikipedia:
The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martii) is the name of 15 March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.^[1] The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other conspirators.On his way to the Theatre of Pompey (where he would be assassinated), Caesar saw a seer who had foretold that harm would come to him not later than the Ides of March. Caesar joked, "Well, the Ides of March have come", to which the seer replied "Ay, they have come, but they are not gone."^[2] This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, when Caesar is warned to "beware the Ides of March".

Julius Caesar.... Alexander the Great... Attila the Hun...    These ancient greats were generals on the battlefield conquering for their people. But at the heart of it, they were conquering worlds for themselves.  The power, prestige, position..... Caesar was assassinated probably on this day in 44 B.C.  - notice the B.C. - as great a general and leader Julius was, we only have the Ides of March.... we don't divide time with his birth... B.C. (before Christ.. A.D. anno domini the Year of our Lord) .... Jesus died a much more painful death than Caesar. He was killed because of pressure that the people would make him king. Caesar was killed because he made HIMSELF king.  What a difference! The One from heaven came to earth and fulfilled the Law of God and gave Himself in our place so that we could be citizens in His kingdom. Caesar wanted to govern on behalf of his people.. but he could and would never offer them his kingdom.  All Hail, King Jesus!

Entrusting Yourself to the Just Judge

 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2: 21-25

      Jesus didn't find it necessary to defend Himself against false charges, because He understood He was meant to suffer. He was to carry our sins on His body. His death was more than an example of sacrifice or servanthood.... IT WAS A SUBSTITUTION... He suffered for OUR sake in OUR place... Having now His life instead of our own; suffering and trial are necessary to follow Jesus. My trial and suffering may not look like yours. God has different things planned for different people but suffering is included in the package. Peter goes on to say that "even if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we will be blessed." (1 Peter 3:13-17)
       Jesus did nothing wrong... He didn't deserve to be on trial - WE DO.....  Jesus, rather than complaining or offering a defense of the false charges continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.... That's real faith.... to not take matters into our own hands when we are wronged. To not seek revenge when we've been hurt. To be quick to seek forgiveness when we've wronged others. And trust.... trust the Righteous Judge to accomplish His plan and desire in our life. Jesus could have not completed the task.... that was Satan's temptation to Him all along.... After all, we aren't worth it... As Peter said, we were "were straying like sheep" (v.25 a) .  But because of what He has done for us, we "have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls." (v.25 b) .

"... All flesh is like grass and all it's glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever..."
                                                                                                                 1 Peter 1:24-25 ESV
The Word of God is eternal. Maybe not the bible you read from right now. You can forget it in a hotel room, lose it at the beach, it could be destroyed in a fire... But it can be replaced and the words will be the same. It's character and authority will endure forever. The bible tells us that God breathed into man (Adam) the breath of life (Gen. 2:7), and man became a living soul."  ... God spoke the universe into existence. God spoke His word, and nature obeyed. Moses was told that the Scriptures were vital to the Israelites' survival... and he told this to Joshua in order to pass on the mantle of leadership - In Deuteronomy 32: 47 he says that God's words are "no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live...."  God spoke His words through Moses and the Prophets and then as the New Testament era begins, John describes Christ as the Word Who was made flesh to dwell amoung us. (John 1:14). ...  God fulfills all His promises according to His Word... The bible, God's word to us is eternal... it will never come to an end, because Jesus IS the WORD. Isaiah 55 tells us (v.11) - that God's Word will not return empty and it will accomplish that which God purposes, and it will succeed in the thing for which He sends it.... Hebrews 4:12-13 states; "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword.... piercing our bodies, thoughts, and intentions of our hearts.
Ultimately, we don't read the bible; the bible reads us! ... We must face who we are when we look into the awesome scriptures. They tell us the truth about ourselves and God. Have you responded to God's word? .... Do it today!

Spring is Coming!

The weather has been very nice for the last part of February and the early part of March. I love the spring time, especially because it's golf time again... It's really sad that I'm no better at golf. A very frustrating game, but SO much fun. It brings people together and you can see people (including myself) at their worst (i.e. bad shot!) or their best (celebrating when you or your friends make a good shot) during a golf game. I got to play for the first time in months today. I was HORRIBLE. But again SO much fun! C.J. Mahaney encourages pastors to play golf as often as they can, because it cultivates humility... I believe him! It is a humbling game, and a good reminder of what life is like. Good shots and bad shots.. Good days and bad days. But you play with friends... you are on a journey with each other. Just like life.  - Humility in us... true humility, makes God smile.
"All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: He who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
                                                                                                              Isaiah 66:2  (ESV)