FROM BAD TO WORSE TO BETTER

May 2010 article by Chris Butler

After reading through last month’s Signs of the Times article, we can see that things have not changed at all. The earthquake in Indonesia measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and the one in Mexico measured 7.2. In both, many lives were lost with its accompanying misery and despair of trying to rebuild homes and lives and people not knowing what to do or where to go. In Israel there were rocket attacks in Gaza, retaliation for the killing of 2 Israeli soldiers. There were great rains in Brazil which caused flooding and landslides, with many homes destroyed and reports that events like this had not been seen for 50 years or more. Many of course died.

Then things happened nearer to home, with dramatic events stopping Europe in its tracks, things not seen before. It had been 200 years since the volcano erupted in Iceland and the ensuing ash cloud caused havoc throughout the world. People were stranded in many parts of the world as there were no flights anywhere in most of Europe – in or out of the countries. People either had to wait where they were until flights were on again or find other routes home or change their travel plans to leave this country, resulting in missed reunions and disruption all around.

But do all these people realise that there is someone more powerful than an earthquake or volcano in charge? Almighty God rules and has been ruling from the beginning, and will be to the end of our mortal lives. At the time of writing this there is an election taking place with all leaders asserting that joining them and voting for them is the answer to the country’s problems. We believe that the only ones to whom we can reliably connect with are the Lord God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that things will get worse before they get better. The answer is to believe in God and His Son, read about them in the Bible and act on the messages given. The time must be near for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ when the perfect world the politicians would lead us to believe will occur if they are in charge, will actually be established with Him as our King and leader . The Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 2 quotes a passage from the prophet Joel:

“I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come; and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (verses 19-21)

If you want to avoid worrying about the future, put your trust in God, not man, believe in Him and be baptised. As Romans 6 verse 23 tells us: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. We have the confidence of better things if we try to do what God wants.

“He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned”. (Mark 16 v 16).