August 2011, wowwhat a month? The month of August has been a month where we have seen Bible prophesy being fulfilled before our very eyes. Luke 21:25-26 says; “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring.” Jesus predicted that one of the signs of the End Times would be distress of nations with perplexity. We are watching these predictions coming to pass every day on our television screens. This is not just in our nation but in nations around the world. “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” He also predicted that men’s hearts would fail them for fear! It means that there will be things that will be so frightening that people will have heart attacks because they are so scared.
As most of us watched on our television sets we witnessed the most senseless vandalism and destruction of property that this country has ever witnessed; it was so bad in some areas that people were afraid to sleep in their own homes.
There are debates and questions being asked because people are looking for answers as to how the United Kingdom ever arrived at such a state. Children as young as seven were among the looters, arsonists and rioters who were setting buildings and homes on fire. I grew up in the Croydon area and was shocked to see a landmark building on Reeves Corner going up in flames; this building had survived the first and second world wars and was now destroyed by a senseless act of destruction.
People are trying to make sense of it all. My opinion on this stems from the basis that whatwesowwewillreap. Let’stakealook back at the history of our nation; in the last thirty to forty years there have been changes implemented in our society that have caused our culture to change drastically.
Religion has changed the culture of our nation; this was once regarded as a Christian nation it is now a nation where any and every religion is permitted. Christianity was removed from our schools, where we would once begin our school day with a Christian assembly singing a hymn or two before classes beganthatwastakenaway. WhenIwasin school everyone was given a Gideon Bible in fact every hotel room used to have a Gideon Bible in the room. Good Friday was a day that was regarded and respected in this country as a significant day and you would be hard pressed to find anywhere open on that day.
The same can be said of Christmas where all shops would be closed to honour the Saviour Jesus Christ. Now our culture has embraced other religions who do not recognise or honour Christianity or the Saviour. It has gone so far that Christianity is regarded with zero tolerance, you are likely to be fired from your job if you speak to anyone about Christianity.
Street evangelism has been pretty much outlawed and you have to seek written permission to be able to evangelise on the streets of Britain. Great Britain has rejected Christianity and has embraced every other religion, this nation has rejected the Creator and hasturned its back on Him who died for us. What we don’t realise is that in rejecting Christ we have rejected His blessings and favour that we once had as a nation. Without God morals are lost and subsequent generations grow increasingly worse as they grow up without any knowledge of God whatsoever.
Technology – children and young people now have limitless access to music and the internet at the click of a button.
Hollywood – Thanks to Hollywood and the type of technology available today children have easy access to movies, which are so realistic in their depiction of acts of violence, murder and other defiant behaviour, most of which would have us all running for cover. We experienced some of this violence recently. There was once a very strict code of morals and ethics as to what the movie industry could show, now there seems to be no limits to what they can show. Much of what is now regarded as suitable for children was unheard of just a few years ago.
Culture & Parenting –The way we were parented is different to how children are parented today. It was unusual to come from a single parent home when I was growing up but now the roles seem to have reversed and what is no longer unusual has now become the norm. We were taught boundaries and respect for authority, we had parents to answer to when it came to where we were going, and we had to get permission. At 14 years old I couldn’t be out on the streets without my parents’ consent and even with consent, I had to be back home at a certain time. Our culture changed when the government decided to outlaw discipline in schools and in the home, we were told that we couldn’t smack our children as it was regarded as “child abuse”. Child protection authorities were threatening to prosecute parents if they disciplined their children and even created adverts where they gave telephone numbers for children to call to report their parents if they felt they were being abused.
Regardless of the dictates of culture, technology, the government or Hollywood some of us chose to stick to raising our children according to the Bible. Proverbs 22:6 says that we should “train a child in the way they should go...”, this means that a child does not know how to behave and they need guidance. Proverbs 29:15 tells us that “a child left to himself will bring his mother to shame”. Have we not seen that in the media recently? Proverbs 13:24 says that “he that spares the rod hates his child”, wow! That is God’s view on raising children, now a generation or two later we can see the fruit of not doing things God’s way.
The Bible speaks of the times that we are now witnessing. In 2 Timothy 3:1-4 it says “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” We are in that time now. Where do we go fromhere? Despite what is happening in our nation today there are some positives. You may be wondering what possible positives can there be? Romans 5:20 says “where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.” Despite what things may look like right now, God is very much in control and this is a great opportunity for the church to shine.
Throughout scripture we see what the devil meant for bad God turned it around for good. We just have to remember Joseph, Job and even our Saviour; the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:8 that had the devil known he would never have crucified the Lord of Glory. Had he known what? Had he known that by crucifying Jesus millions of people would be walking in the same authority and instead of having one Jesus to contend with he was going to have millions. Hindsight is a
wonderful thing because he would have known that by crucifying Jesus millions upon millions of people would become born again and be reconciled back to God. Had he known all of this, he would never have done what he did. He thought he was destroying the Lord Jesus Christ but God the Father had a greater plan to turn it around for our good.
We, the church, need to preach Jesus because out of these riots and end time events, millions upon millions of people will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour if we will do our part and be bold enough to share Christ with them. Romans 10:13-15 says, For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace! Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
As Christians we are required to be bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1) and let the world know that Jesus is the way, the hope, the peace and the answer.
As you allow God to direct your steps recognise that this window of opportunity to touch the hearts of people is only open to us for a short time, we must go with conviction, without fear or intimidation and let the people know the good news of Salvation that Jesus is alive and He is coming back soon. Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming [soon] quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
"...we must go with conviction, without fear or intimidation and let the people know the good news of Salvation that Jesus is alive and He is coming back soon."