Genesis 1 tells us that God prepared the earth for mankind to live on and rule over. So how are we doing?

By most measures, not so well. The first man and woman couldn’t even rule themselves! Seduced by false advertising (Genesis 3:4-5), they stole what wasn’t theirs (Genesis 2:17, 3:6) and blamed “someone else” when they got caught (Genesis 3:11-13). This unpromising start was quickly followed by unjustified anger (Genesis 4:5-7), cold-blooded murder (Genesis 4:8), and arrogant lies (Genesis 4:9-10). 

What was the result of this misrule? In Genesis 6 God gives mankind this discouraging report card: “…all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth…” (Genesis 6:12). What started as “very good” (Genesis 1:31), mankind had completely corrupted (Genesis 6:1-13).

Grieved over their mismanagement and mistreatment of Himself and each other (Genesis 6:6), God told His servant Noah that He would put an end to that utterly evil age (Genesis 6:8-9; 7:1). God warned that destruction was coming and that His servant should prepare if he wanted to escape (Genesis 6:13-21)

That was Noah’s time. What about our time? Did God proclaim a warning for our day and age? How corrupt do YOU think our day and age is right now?

A better question may be, is there ANYTHING mankind hasn’t corrupted in our day and age?

How about something as simple as food?

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that 80-90% of all corn and soybeans are genetically engineered. At least 246 million acres of farm land around the world are planted with Monsanto’s genetically-engineered “technology.”

To make livestock grow bigger and faster we inject them with growth hormones, feed them the blood and ground-up remains of dead (and diseased) animals, and pump them full of antibiotics when they get sick. Very little food in the United States is produced in accordance with God’s laws. We have utterly corrupted it in our day and age.

What about business and economics?

The U.S. Department of Treasury estimates that American households lost $19.2 TRILLION dollars in household wealth due to the recent financial crisis. Hundreds of billions have been spent to bail out failed companies whose leaders knowingly engaged in bad (and sometimes criminal) practices. Billions in penalties have been assessed for tax fraud, accounting fraud, and securities fraud. Millions lost their jobs, millions more lost their homes and trillions have been added to the U.S. Government debt (it’s almost $16 trillion and growing fast). Which businesses or politicians do we trust? Not many!

Business and economics have been utterly corrupted in our day and age.

What about families and education?

Gay marriage and abortion are being legalized, while teaching anything about God in many public schools is being made illegal.

Almost 50% of marriages are terminated by divorce, and 20% of births terminated by abortion. Worldwide, about 42 million babies are killed via abortion every year. That’s almost 1/2 billion babies in 10 years!

Add to this adultery, fornication, pornography, child abuse, domestic abuse, and drug abuse. Add to that violence in our streets, violence in our homes and violence in war.  Greed, fraud, violence, waste and every form of lust and abuse abound in our day and age!

What does the Bible say the world will be like just prior to Christ’s return? Christ said it would be like the days of Noah (Matthew 24:38-39). He said it would be like it is today!

We don’t know exactly when the Great Tribulation just prior to Christ’s return will start (Matthew 24:21, 36). But when we look at prophecy being fulfilled (as shown in our weekly Updates), and truly understand the corruption that permeates virtually every aspect of our societies, it seems those days are quickly approaching. When Noah was warned about God’s coming judgment, he believed and prepared. When we look at the signs of our times and hear warnings about God’s coming judgment, do we believe? Are we now preparing? Are we ready for Christ’s return if it happens in our lifetime?

My family and I are in the final days of preparation for a two-week summer vacation. As I reflect upon the planning we have completed, I’m stunned at how much time and effort it can take to get everything in order. The list of preparations we have made include setting our travel routes, tuning up the van, researching activities to enjoy along the way, cleaning and folding the laundry, packing, making arrangements to have our home and dog taken care of, and much, much more. With as much planning as we have done already, it seems that there is still an endless amount of things that we could do to prepare even better. Even though there may be things left unplanned, with each step of organization we become more confident that we will have a fun, fulfilling, and successful trip. I consider the work spent planning our vacation to be an extremely valuable investment, which we will enjoy the return on over the next two weeks.

I did not always advocate such rigorous planning, however. I used to be very skeptical about the value of planning. Perhaps the cause of my skepticism was my youthful idealism, giving impulse and spontaneity greater priority. Perhaps it was the stories I’d heard about elaborate plans failing miserably. Perhaps it was the belief that planned time was not free. Perhaps I felt that planning my time reduced my ability to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Whatever the cause was, I frequently resisted careful planning and gave way to caprice instead, believing that I would live a more rich life by leaving my options open, not bound by plans.

Eventually, I learned that it is easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable to be more deliberate with the use of my time. Living without plans for the sake of leaving options available is analogous to a sail boat refusing to raise a sail at sea for fear of having to choose a direction. While any direction is possible, no destination will be reached without some commitment. Reaching any destination or goal requires setting a direction and taking the incremental steps to arrive there. Doing this successfully requires thought, research, planning, and activity. Through experience, I have learned that investing effort into these planning activities pays off. 

The fact that God is a planner establishes the importance of planning. He has made His goal very clear in that He will establish a Kingdom and a Family on Earth. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,” which reminds us that God’s plan has been in effect for a very long time.  The plan of salvation that God has in effect right now is very intricate as well. You and I have a very specific purpose in this plan of God, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9). There is no greater example of rigorous preparation than that of God’s great plan to establish His Kingdom on the Earth. It is clear that God does not have a corner left unprepared and open to risk of failure. This should encourage us to live by this example, and prepare ourselves well for the fulfillment of this same plan. The effort spent on thought, learning, improving, and putting God’s ways of life into practice will pay off if we are in alignment with this plan.

While planning and preparation are indispensable to the life of a Christian, it is important to note that there are things that simply cannot be planned. Since we know that Jesus Christ will return at an hour that we do not expect (Luke 12:40), there is a limit to how precisely we can plan for the return of Jesus Christ. It is important to know that all plans have limitations. We can expect that unexpected events will occur, throwing careful plans into a tail-spin if they are too rigid. However, when we prepare spiritually, we will have an easier time making adjustments to set our course in the right direction. 

Consider the difference between two different approaches implied when Jesus Christ describes the time of the tribulation, written in Matthew 24:17-18. “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” It is clear that a careful plan for survival will fail without a righteous goal. Our plans and preparations must be spiritually driven, so that moments requiring a correct response will be executed correctly. It is the way in which we plan to act that is important, much more than the precise execution of a specific step in our plan, at a specific point in time. It is therefore vital, not only that we prepare and make plans for the coming Kingdom of God, but that we do so correctly; with a clear understanding of God’s perfect will, only available through the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Driving to where we meet for Sabbath Services this past week, my wife and I noticed an ominous billowing plume of smoke—the tell-tale sign of an erupting forest fire.
 
Now, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, is making national and international news because of its close proximity to what has become a raging inferno consuming over forty-thousand acres, including reports of terrible destruction and even death.
 
For those so suddenly displaced and virtually fleeing for their lives, the loss has been heart-rending. The possessions of a lifetime are gone. The future is bleak and uncertain, and their way forward will doubtless leave them emotionally wounded along with the challenge to rebuild their lives.
 
The outpouring of help has been remarkable, and this community has been blessed with abundant resources for just times like this. This disaster is proving to be life-changing for a lot of people, but it is—as many disasters are—manageable.
 
However, for those who closely follow the prophetic teachings of the Word of God, we know that the world is on the threshold of such cataclysmic occurrences that no one is prepared, and few will even survive. For those who do, it will be in a world that has been saved from the brink of total annihilation.
 
Here is how Jesus Christ spoke of this future, and how He promised help for those who are faithful to Him—called here and other places in the Bible, the “elect”:
 
“‘And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened’” (Matthew 24:22). 
 
Of course this is very encouraging for us who seek to follow the lead of Jesus Christ and to be obedient to God, but what about everyone else? Do we have any responsibility for others? While many will help in times of need and prove to be generous following times of difficulty, our challenge is to provide the help BEFORE disaster comes!
 
The way we are to do this is to boldly proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God; to teach a true understanding of what it means to be a Christian; to reach out to those who respond and to help them become a part of God’s “elect.”
 
Disaster is coming, and we have been given an understanding from God about the future. Will we be prepared, personally, and will we be the ones who help alert the world of the tribulation which will devastate all people?

As we are preparing for my mother’s memorial service, we have been going through old pictures and video footage, triggering the return of almost forgotten memories. A particular photograph may have led to all kinds of warm thoughts and feelings—a special video clip might have brought back to mind the entire circumstances of that unique precious moment. I was reminded of a song which Elvis Presley made famous: “Memories.” In it, this line is repeated: “Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind. Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine…”

Indeed, memories can be sweet and become sweetened. In reflecting on my relationship with my mother, those are the memories I want to cherish. Of course, there were, on occasion, not-so-pleasant times, as they will be in any relationship—but I’d like to forget those. I don’t want to dwell on them or even be reminded of them.

Far too many seem to want to concentrate on and remember negative incidents and occurrences; they might even hold grudges against someone who has already died. That does not do them any good; in fact, those feelings can eat them up and literally destroy their whole being. Paul tells us to meditate on that which is of good report and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). How thankful can we be that God has promised us, for His own sake, to forget our sins and remember them no more (Isaiah 43:25). Shouldn’t we behave likewise toward others?

Cherishing good memories will do good for our own souls. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 10:7: “The memory of the righteous is a blessing” (New Revised Standard Version), or, “The memory of the just will be blessed” (New American Bible). Not only do we have “happy memories of good men” (so the Living Bible), but the righteous’s memories of others will be good memories, and they will therefore be a blessing to others and to himself.

Our memories of loved ones who fall asleep should be “sweetened thru the ages just like wine.” But we should not wait until death—it is so much better to work on and maintain a loving and caring relationship with them while they are still alive. Solomon encourages us to take it to heart—and respond accordingly–when we go to a house of mourning, because “that is the end of all men” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). We all will die and have to give account to God for how we lived (Romans 14:12).

Let’s make the best of our lives and do good, as we have opportunity (Galatians 6:10). Note Solomon’s admonition in Proverbs 3:27: “Refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it, if it is in your power to perform it” (New Jerusalem Bible). Our loved ones are entitled to our kindness—let us not fail to grant it. Our future sweet and sweetened cherished memories of our loved ones must not be the product of our imagination and wishful thinking, but rather, they ought to be an accurate reflection of our true and genuine loving relationship with them.

A religious minister in the UK founded the Polite Society in 1986. Later they changed the name to “the Campaign for Courtesy” as they decided that the word “polite” had passed its sell-by date. Politeness can be defined as “The act of showing respect or regard for others”. Wikipedia defines it this way: “Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette”.

However, there is the “Polite Society” organisation in the USA which is actually about guns and weapons, and they state that “Our name derives from Robert Heinlein’s famous quotation, ‘An armed society is a polite society.’” I would suggest that the quotation, and their adoption of it, is a misuse of the phrase.

One writer on an Internet forum opined: “Yet, it is that acceptable social condition called politeness that polite society itself, through its repression and recrimination has been the greatest source of the travesties and injustices of Man against Fellow Man.” Having read that phrase a number of times, I’m still unsure what he means except that politeness does not rank high on his list of attributes.

Showing respect and regard for others is not about carrying and using guns, nor is it repressive or recriminatory. It is simply another definition that echoes the requirement of a true Christian. It is certainly about courtesy, good manners and etiquette and considers others as much as self.

It was interesting to read the story that youngsters gave up their seats on a bus to two pensioners (who were two of the founder members of the National Polite Society). The couple was so impressed by their courteous behaviour that they nominated them for a Polite Society award. I am sure this was encouraging to the recipients, but it does reflect that which should be the norm in society is now considered old fashioned, out of date or unnecessary! Not so, some decades ago, but politeness is not something that seems “cool” today.

One quotation I read was very interesting when the writer said: “One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.”

William Arnot, a clergyman, wrote in his book “Illustrations of the Book of Proverbs”: “I do not say that politeness will do as a substitute for religion; but politeness is of use as the handmaid of religion. Indeed, rude speech and manners are both the signs of moral evil already existing, and the causes of increasing it… Christianity with its living power in the heart will produce refinement in the manners; and outward refinement will throw a shield round inward principle, and keep it out of harm’s way.”

The Bible sums up, succinctly, the qualities needed to reflect our calling, showing politeness and courtesy:

• “Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others” (Philippians 2:3 NJB).  
• “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NIV).  
• “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10 NIV).  
• “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous (1 Peter 3:8 New King James Version)

Pentecost, which we’ve just celebrated, was the time when the Holy Spirit was given to the New Testament Church (See Acts chapter 2). Today, baptised members of the true Church of God can reflect their calling by being polite and courteous in a dark society, which emphasises the promotion of self and other carnal traits. Our way is the opposite to that, as Scripture reveals. It is a way that improves society, creates happiness and ensures that we are moving towards being in the Kingdom of God at Christ’s return.

Some people have been so busy trying to figure out that which cannot be calculated and is completely within God’s purview to decide, that they missed the fact that Christ is already here.  They have their noses so buried in their own private interpretations of the Bible that they have missed Christ’s presence here altogether. 

One of the reasons that Christ came the first time to Earth about 2000 years ago, was so that we could have the opportunity to have Him in us (John 6:56, 15:4-5, 17:23). 

If we keep His commandments (John 14:20-21) then we have Christ here with us and in us NOW!  If we as true Christians live by His every Word, we do not need to wait to have a personal relationship with Christ…we can have it NOW!

Of course Christ is still yet to return in power and glory for all the world to see — and for them to begin their interaction with Him on a more intimate level.  But we have the chance through the gift of the Holy Spirit to make the most of that opportunity NOW!

One of the major responsibilities which Christ gave His Church is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world as a witness. Failing to do so would have devastating consequences for all of us.

We understand that we can only move forward in this task, when God provides us with both the income and the opportunities or open doors. The fact that we are not a large group of tens of thousands of members does not diminish our duty to do what we can with what is being given to us.

This responsibility will be carried forward into the Millennium, after the return of Christ, and we know by what is written in the 14th chapter of the book of Zechariah that some nations will not accept the gospel message gladly and with open arms—because that message includes obedience to God’s laws and the keeping of the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days. It will require a change of heart for carnal people to accept God’s law, because the carnal mind is enmity against the law of God, and unwilling and unable to keep it. So, at first, man’s animosity towards the gospel message will continue to exist.

Notice Zechariah 14:16-19:

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

The gospel message includes a warning to this world, pointing at horrible times to come, before Christ returns. Today, many will not listen, but this must not discourage us to fulfill our commission. The major harvest of the sowing of the seed of God by God’s servants throughout mankind’s existence will come to fruition in the Millennium and during the Great White Throne Judgment period.

Just because we are small doesn’t mean we have no impact. A mustard seed almost looks like dust, yet it grows up to become a large tree. The challenge of proclaiming God’s gospel is before us now in this day and age, and this task will continue in the ages to come. Let us ensure that we are about our Father’s business in announcing to this world the only hope for all of mankind.

A little over a year ago April 4th, I was laid off from my job. I spent the next nine months looking for work. Every day was a struggle to keep a positive attitude and remind myself that God was in charge and had a plan in place that He was working out for me. Every job interview I would ask myself, “Is this the one?” and “Is today the day?” And many times I would walk away excited about the prospect, feeling good about the interview, and then would come the call that I interviewed well but that for various reasons they were not going to hire me.
 
Then one day I got a job… it was just for a couple days, filing paper work. But I put my heart into it (Ecclesiastes 9:10). I wasn’t expecting this to turn into anything. It was just a little side job. But as it happened, things began to grow. It was incredible and mind blowing to see how God was opening doors before my very eyes and I had nothing to do with it.
 
It made me realize that after all the time and effort that I had put in, it was still in God’s hands.  The church is a family, a growing living organism. In the New Testament, the preservation of the early church was promised to Peter.  In Matthew 16:18-19, it is also promised that though there would be problems, the church would never fail. God’s hand has never slipped. He has always been there, leading and guiding those who are carrying on the commission given to the church to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
 
When we spend the time in doing the right things, in seeking after God, He promises us that there will be no lack of doors opening for us (Matthew 7:7-8). We need to make sure that we are the ones knocking on doors, trying to seek out and understand God’s will for us, both in the church and in our individual lives. If we continue to knock and seek, we can be assured that we will be able to be with Christ at His return. Revelation 3:8 says: “I know your works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:20 adds: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,  I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
 
Christ is actively seeking to be a part of our lives. He wants us to open up ourselves so that He can come and live in us as it says. We must choose this for ourselves. The doors are there, waiting for us to choose which ones we will walk through.

Survival at the end of this age is something that has certainly occupied the thoughts of many of us. I’ve observed even secular conversations comparing measures of preparation and ideas about how the end of this age may come. Natural disaster, war, and economic collapse, along with their triggers strike fear into the hearts of many. While all of the above calamities are supported by the Bible, the one thing we know is that the end-time fulfillment during the Day of the Lord will come about as a punishment for disobedience to God, and for a purpose.
 
Even though God does not call many in this day and age for salvation, He will work very hard to wake up the inhabitants of this world by causing their circumstances to turn sour, but “will He really find faith on the Earth?” (Luke 18:8). God desires that as many people as possible turn away from sin and look at Him for strength. Only in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ will we find salvation; not in a bunker filled with weapons. When we allow ourselves to be corrected, when we repent and turn to God, it pleases Him greatly. As we read in Luke 15:10, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
 
With all of this in mind, it’s one thing to consider the proper response to massive world-wide correction, it’s another thing to ask ourselves how we respond when we’re trying our hardest to turn to God, but are still experiencing hardship. How do we respond in the face of adversity? Do we get angry, frustrated, discouraged, and give up? As we have learned, sometimes the answer from God is “No.” [http://eternalgod.org/update/2070#Editorial5140]. When our circumstances become difficult even when we try our hardest, does it cause us to lose faith in God and begin to question our beliefs in the truth? Of course, as much as our human nature is prone to respond this way, we must not.
 
When we face troubles at each turn, even if our intents and efforts are genuine, our response must be to keep our focus on God. Habakkuk 3:17-18 serves as an encouraging meditation, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” We may find trouble in the lives that we live, but the fact remains that we have true, eternal salvation as an irrevocable source of joy in our lives, free for the taking, as long as we choose to remain faithful and turn to God.

Sodom and Gomorrah occupy an infamous place in history. For their vile wickedness and the shameless sins they committed, God brought about their complete destruction.

These two cities became what they were through a process of time. Much like the rise and fall of great nations and empires, a kind of rottenness began to take hold until it just went too far.

Lot lived in Sodom, and Peter writes of him that he “was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:7-8).

We who desire to live as godly examples in the world of the ungodly are also “oppressed” and “tormented” by what we see and hear! We know that our times are perilous and filled with unspeakable lawlessness: In the Western Nations, such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and those of Europe, racial hatred gives way to murder; homosexuality and lesbianism are pushed in the media and through legislative acts as acceptable and normal, families are being shattered through divorce; abortions are commonplace; God is not honored—His Name is a vile expletive among youth and adults, nor are His laws known or obeyed; and the list of corruptions and pollutions of this world seems endless!

Things are getting worse—everything!

Just as happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, so sin will reach its full measure, and God will intervene. However, in the meantime, we face a challenge that has confronted every person who has sought to live a righteous life. Paul addresses this:

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…” (Philippians 2:14-16).

For all the evil that we see and hear about every day of our lives, and although we sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done, we look forward—with ever-increasing hope—to the return of Jesus Christ and the part we will have with Him in the Kingdom of God (and that also, “from day to day”)!