TROUBLED TIMES AHEAD

July 2007 article by Chris Butler

As we go about our daily routine, there is trouble everywhere – at work, home, indeed all over the world. Half the world is hungry, the other half has plenty. Can this be called sharing? Do we care if other people have not got enough? Everyone seems to be out for themselves.

Let’s look at the rest of the world. Israel still has problems; Palestinians fight amongst themselves causing civil war. Each side wants power although it seems that Hamas has the power at the moment. News of the little girl lost, Madeleine McCann has been headline news recently. It is hard to think of who would want to hurt anyone like that, especially a little girl. But take a look at what Jesus said would happen before His return to this earth to set up God’s Kingdom:

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And he shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24, verses 4-8

Dear friends, we are living in troubled times and we need to do something about this. Dust off your shelves where the books are and find the Bible, God’s inspired word written for all of us to learn about what H has to offer everyone.

On my way to work I have noticed a signpost outside a church. It reads: If you live as if God doesn’t exist, you had better be right. Everyone who passed by must have read it. So we need that book, the Bible, God’s word to find out.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 14, verses 1-3

The opening verse says ‘The fool has said in his heart there is no God’. We need to read and study the Bible to find out the truth. God has something to give you but you must believe He is there. Look around at God’s world – He has given it for everyone but we have to believe in Him and the Lord Jesus Christ, otherwise the outcome is not very good. We are sinners in His sight and deserve to die, but through the Lord Jesus we can be saved, otherwise we will reap the reward.

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’. Romans 6 v 23.

I would urge everyone to take a look, open the Bible and see what God’s offer is to you. It could mean eternal life. It’s up to you!