In Matthew 16:3, Jesus was speaking to religious leaders and pointed out their inability to recognize the signs of the times. "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times ?" Here we are, at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century and many of us are less certain about the future than we ever have been. Social boundaries and guideposts have been literally demolished by the ideas, philosophies and opinions of many who are choosing to be controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. Crimes of offense considered less than $950 in value, receive little or no punishment (1) but calling someone by the wrong pronoun could cost you up to $250,000 dollars. (2) How did we get here ? Human nature is predictable and the final result of sin working unchecked in the hearts of human beings is even easier to forecast. To our heavenly Father, there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) That's why it is not hard to picture much of humanity's fate this year. Here is a sampling of what we can expect to see:
01. Aggravation,
aggression, accusations, abortions and alcoholism will increase the sadness of humanity.
02. Belief in oneself, in mankind, or anything instead of God will still be insufficient for happiness.
03. Christ and his
character will still be the most important gifts that anyone could ever receive.
04. Dead people will
still remain dead in the grave, no matter how many movies, or human theories
say otherwise.
05. Everyone will be
one year closer to the final judgment described in Revelation 20:9.
06. Fathers and
mothers will still be unconverted in many, many homes throughout
America.
07. God will still
be love and still be omnipotent and still be omniscient and still be
omnipresent.
08. Hell will still
mean the grave according to the Bible and not a place where God burns sinners forever.
09. I will still be
nothing and know nothing and have nothing without God.
10. Jesus will still
be King of kings and Lord of lords.
11. Kindness and
compassion will increase in value but will be expressed less and less.
12. Love will still
be a principle of action and not just a feeling or an emotion.
13. Men of moral
power and excellent Christlike character will be greatly needed.
14. Ninety nine people
will be unprepared for the judgment.
15. Overeating,
overworking, overspending and overreactions will continue to weaken many people.
16. Power will
continue to be centralized and monetized and maximized in the wrong
hands.
17. Quick, deep and
broad understanding will become increasingly necessary for spiritual
and physical survival.
18. Rights will be
exalted above responsibilities and will continue to become idols.
19. Self-discipline
and self-sacrifice will still develop beautiful characters and will
still be required by God.
20. Time will be
wasted and lost by many people in positions of authority and by many
poor people too.
21. Unfortunate
deaths, accidents, losses, and mistakes will
increase because of bad choices.
22. Victory over
selfishness and sin will still be possible for anyone who exercises
true faith in Jesus Christ.
23. Women of moral
power and excellent Christlike character will be greatly needed.
24. You will still
need God every moment of your life whether you praise Him
or not.
25. Zero will still
be the sum total of a life without God, without Christ and without
the Holy Spirit.
Please, please, please, while there is still
time; surrender your thoughts and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves
you and died in order for you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin
and selfishness in our lives...He loves you and He wants you...Not just to be
forgiven...Not to play church, but to truly become Christ-like before you die
so that you can be prepared to enjoy eternity with Him. A Christlike person is
the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven and the only kind of person
that could be trusted in heaven.
Pray like this -
Father in heaven, I am a sinner and I believe that Jesus Christ died on the
cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior right now and I ask you to give me a new heart. New motives, new desires
and new purposes that will be in harmony with your law of 10 commandments. I
thank you and praise you for the forgiveness of my sins and for causing me to
be born again right now,
© 2020 Tyrone Keels
www.issues-of-life.com
