-

 Beacons of Hope (March 15, 2023)

“Jesus answered them…These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16, 31, 33)

One of my favorite lines in classic literature opens Charles Dickens’ famous novel A Tale of Two Cities with a striking contrast. This literary masterpiece begins with the catchy phrase, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...” That profound statement seems to me to be especially applicable to these tumultuous and freighting times in which we live, especially from the perspective of Christians who seek to spread the good news of the gospel of salvation in a dark, sinister world that is rapidly rejecting God and the truth and wisdom of His Word.

The magnitude of the moral decay, death, disease, and destruction that define modern culture is appalling to many of us. Despite facing perhaps “the worst of times” that my generation has ever witnessed, we must never forget that God is sovereign and still in full control as His flawless plan unfolds and His divine purpose is fulfilled. The global turmoil and turbulence that we see make these in many ways “the best of times” to witness to the world that Jesus Christ is the answer to all our problems and the exclusive source of abundant and eternal life!  

The fear and uncertainty surrounding the future that grips many people today present opportunities to share our Christian faith with lost souls and to encourage each other. Another stark contrast drawn by Dickens in his immortal opening quotation is relevant to modern times: “…it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” In these times of darkness and despair, we must shine the light of Christ into the shadows of the world as beacons of hope for our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!

“You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
                                              A Christmas Message of Hope ( December 25, 2023) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the  Lord , and whose hope is the  Lord .” (Jeremiah 17:7) Christmas is the season of hope! As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can rejoice in the hope that is ours because the Son of God chose to set aside His heavenly glory, enter humanity, and, in obedience to His Father’s will, fulfill a divine purpose. Because of Christmas, believers have a present and eternal hope without which our earthly lives would be meaningless and devoid of purpose. The world was hopelessly lost in sin, dead spiritually, and doomed to an eternity apart from our righteous Creator, when God demonstrated the greatest love imaginable by sending the incarnate Christ to live a sinless life among us and ...
Read more
-
Image
  Not My Will… ( March 29, 2023) “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Before His unjustified arrest and brutal crucifixion, Jesus—knowing the extreme suffering that He was about to endure for mankind’s salvation—retreated to the Mount of Olives to take His anguish to His Father in heaven through prayer. While His disciples slumbered nearby in the Garden of Gethsemane, our L ORD, showing His humanity, sweat great drops of blood as He pleaded with the Father to make another way if possible. In absolute obedience, however, Christ surrendered His will to that of the heavenly Father and willingly completed the mission for which the Son of God had been sent to earth—to enter humanity as the sinless suffering servant required for the redemption of our sins.  “But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” ...
Read more
-
Image
  What a Waste! ( April 17, 2023) “ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. ” (1 Peter 5:6-7) In terms of personality types, many of us could be categorized as worriers. Looking back over my life and considering the frequency with which I have engaged in the futility of worry without any benefit, I have to think, “What a waste!” Worry—defined as a state of anxiety or uncertainty over actual or potential problems—is worthless! We all have many legitimate personal concerns that prompt us to worry about our loved ones, our health, our jobs, our finances, our personal safety (especially in today’s lawless society), and countless other circumstances. However, these anxieties can hinder our spiritual development as Christians and damage our personal testimony. Worry is rooted in fear that conflicts with who we are as children of God. By faith in Jesus Christ, we’ve place...
Read more