Then Comes the End
“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24, NKJV)
End or Beginning?
As we come to the end of another man-made year, the phrase “THEN COMES THE END” keeps running through my mind. The end of one thing is usually the beginning of something else. As we look at what is happening in the world, all of us could be wondering if this is going to be the last year before the world explodes in nuclear war. After all, man has never made a “toy” that he hasn’t used. And of course, nuclear warfare has already been used by the US at the end of WWII. Some of us wonder if this will be the last year for a democratic republican government in the US. Many people seem to want to move to authoritarian rule. I am not one of them. But some of us may find that this is the last year that we will have here on this planet. We don’t have to read a Bible to know that apart from the rapture (nearly) 100 percent of all people born into this world have died or will die. So if this should be our last year, then what? The Bible says that there is an “after this.” The writer of the Hebrew epistle reminds us, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV).”
Lessons Learned
As we look at the end of the year, what have we learned from living in 2023? I have learned that people are reading books about the Bible but they don’t seem to have confidence in their own ability to read and understand the Bible itself. Bible studies have become the study of some author’s book. However, because of preconceived points of view, we read authors that agree with us on the difficult topics of salvation, baptism, election, gifts, and lately prophecy, particularly end time prophecy.
I have found that since we in the US are in another political campaign, we are listening to lies and misinformation and bullying by those who want to be our leaders. I have found that many Christians are willing to follow the world in belittling those that are in office or who are running for office, contrary to the Biblical injunction to honor them. You would think that we are acting like we are in an elementary school recess where bullying is common. The Apostle Paul says, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men (Titus 3:1-2, NKJV).” Remember the Emperor Nero was probably on the throne of Rome when this was written.
I am reminded of the prophetic scripture, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13, NKJV).” Why is it so easy to believe lies and liars rather than believing the Word of God? There is only One who finds it impossible to lie and that is God Himself. Again, the Apostle Paul says, “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began (Titus 1:1-2, NKJV).”
Let us Be Different
As we come to the end of another year and the start of a new year, it is my desire to be different (the Biblical word is holy or sanctified or set apart) from the world. We are not saved by what we do, but what we do is a mirror reflecting who we are and what we believe. If we are Christians, let us again remind our hearts that we cannot take our marching orders from the world that Satan controls. We need to take our marching orders from the Lord who died to save us. And we need to remember that no matter what the New Year brings, we have a God who not only saved us, but we have a God who cares for us and will see us through whatever happens. The Apostle Peter reminds us, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for (or concerning) you(1 Peter 5:7, NKJV).”
Think of it! There are millions of people in this world and yet the Lord cares for us individually. King David the Psalmist reminds us, “But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.” (Psalms 40:17, NKJV)
Final Question
Is the end of this year going to be a new beginning where we as Christians use discernment, read the Bible and believe it, and where we act like the saints that God says we are? Some of you have already shown that you do this, others not so much. Let this end be a new beginning for all of us who take the name of Christian.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 24 and 31, 2023
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