Hope For
Planet Earth? Owner Returning Soon *
[*The title of this tract was taken from a
poster outside St. Patrick’s Church,
FOREWORD
HOPE FOR
"From
How can it be that going to school or filling your car with Petrol
or going to the theatre or an evening can turn into such a nightmare? But for young and old alike this is the siege
that many thousands living around
We don’t know the motives behind the
Many of us couldn't find
No wonder they want to break free from the Russians. The Chechens themselves are apparently tough
people who are uncompromising in their determination and ruthless in their
actions as well. This was clearly shown
in the past when they beheaded some hostages including at least one British
person.
Thankfully the sieges are over.
Unfortunately too many people died, for what? A bit of shooting practise on the part of two
mentally deranged men, or some misguided notion that half the Russian army was
going to withdraw within hours from a position that it has taken years to
establish?
The Russian authorities are now telling us that none of the Chechen
rebels survived. One newspaper called
some of them the Black Widows, women who had lost their husbands in the on
going conflict and who were determined to seek revenge.
Their deaths are now another statistic of this long running
conflict and yet another sore that no doubt will he reopened at a later stage
somewhere else with even more pain and death.
I'm sorry if this is all very depressing reading for you and
thousands of miles away from your present situation. But, what we have witnessed from Maryland
to Moscow only goes to underline the fact that evil is all around us and the
spiral of hatred just goes on and on until something or someone breaks it.
We know only too well what a spiral of distrust hatred and violence
can do to a community and a province.
But as a people we should know equally as well, that there is a God who, if we embrace in a
personal way, can give us the grace and power to start again, forgive the past
and promise a new future.
He is the hope that there is for this world, in which we
are afraid to allow our children to grow up in.
He is the hope that many, maybe even you, have been looking for. He is real hope in a sea of hopelessness."
[* "By the way,
-
The Leader, Tuesday October 29, 2002.
-------
Slowly
but surely it appears that the people of God are beginning to realise the fact
that earth cannot enjoy lasting peace until the Second Advent of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. But when will regenerate
believers "take to heart what is written
... because the time is near"? (Rev. 1: 3).
It
has been said:-
1.
"It is one of the drawbacks of to-day, of which
no one seems in the least conscious, that the leaders in prophetic study are
unaware of the technical points which govern the present situation. The Parousia,
the keystone in the arch of coming events, so-ordinating
all; the profound doctrine of miracle, underlying, not alone all past
fundamentals, but also immense future developments; the open activities of evil
spirits, and how to test the miraculous; the coming Gnosticism which will be
the basis of Apostasy; the whole gamut of reward, the merest alphabet of which
is not understood, but which largely shapes coming events:- such lost keys as
these not only leave the prophetic schools confused and bewildered, but also in
some measure bereft of a knowledge of the exact conduct required to meet the
situation. An army caught off its guard
at night is lost."
2.
"It is a revealing fact that while the leaders of
the churches are twittering optimism dashed with interludes of panic, the
world is being faced by facts to think and speak in terms Apocalyptic."
3.
"That many of the Churches are moving in the
outer ring of infidelity they themselves, before long, will put beyond doubt or
denial traditional Christianity has already ceased to be the religion of a good
many of our churches, and of a still larger number of our ministers. The Creeds are for the greater part
impossible of belief, the centre of gravity, as regards the doctrinal tenets of
no small section of the Assembly, has undergone a striking change."
4.
"That a fallen world requires something far more
radical than the most radical politics, sometimes realised too late, is a fact
more commonly never realised at all."
5.
"It is pathetic to watch the well-meant
endeavours of the world’s statesmen to establish perpetual peace among
unregenerate men. One might as well set
up a Millennium of a den of wolves: "I send
you forth," the Saviour said to His
disciples, "as sheep in the midst of wolves"
(Matt. 10: 16).
When
will Christians see that not all the saved will rule
during the Millennium? – Only
“him who overcomes and does my will
to the end. … He will
rule them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like pottery” (Rev. 2: 26, 27).
2. That not all will be considered worthy or resurrected at the First
Resurrection - only the ‘blessed and holy’:
"Blessed and holy are those who have part in
the first resurrection" (Rev. 20: 6). "Those
who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in
the resurrection [out] from the dead" (Luke
20: 35). Can we enter into
the presence of God in Heaven before the redemption of our bodies? The evil spirits, active within the Church
today, who are succeeding in the deception of many of the regenerate today would say so.
They teach we will enter heaven - one by one - at the time of our Death!
3. That not all will escape the Great Tribulation - only the careful,
the watchful, and the prayerful who ‘endure patiently’:
"Be careful ... always on the watch and pray
that you [disciples] may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able
to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke
21: 36). "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I
will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole
world to test those who live on the earth" (Rev. 3: 10).
4. That not all will wear a crown - only those who hold on to what they
have: "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have,
so that no one will take your crown" (Rev.
3: 11).
5. That not all will inherit the earth - only the righteous, that is,
only those who are actively righteous, in addition to being righteous by
imputation: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of
the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the
kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5: 20).
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
[their] righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matt. 5: 10). "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his
holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does
not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will
receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Saviour"
(Psa. 24: 3-5).
6. That not all will qualify and win the prize - only those
who run according to the rules to get it: "Do you
not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last;
but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I [Paul] do not run like a
man running aimlessly ; I do not fight like a man
beating the air. No, I beat my body and
make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will
not be disqualified for the prize"
(1 Cor. 9: 24-27).
7. That not all will reign with Christ - only those who suffer with Christ
will reign with Him: " ... Co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in
order that we may also share in his glory." "God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted
worthy of the
HOPE FOR PLANET EARTH IS ALSO THE CHRISTIAN’S HOPE.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for
the sons of God to be revealed ... Not only
so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption
of our bodies. For
in this hope we are saved" (Rom. 8: 18, 19, 23).
The
word "hope" is defined as follows: (1)
n. "Confident expectation that something longed
for will come; state of mind entertaining such expectation; someone or
something that inspires such expectation or upon which success depends;
likelihood." (2) v. "to desire and expect that something will come to
pass; be hopeful, trust, desire." - Oldhams
Concise English Dictionary.
Is
ETERNAL LIFE the Christian’s HOPE? NO. We
already have that life by the grace of God on bare faith alone:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life" (John 3: 16). Eternal life is a free gift, and a free gift
is free of all conditions, except the outstretched hand of faith to receive it:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6: 23). "For it
is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can
boast" (Eph. 2: 8, 9).
If
we are regenerate, we dare not hope for a free gift which we have at present or
we will be found guilty of unbelief and mistrust in God. On the other hand, we dare not assume we have
won the prize until we await the results of the judgment of Christ.
What
is the Christian’s HOPE? It is
the ‘confident expectation,’ upon which his/her ‘success depends’: it is
something we long for which most certainly will come to pass. That is, it lies in the future: an
event of immense importance to every redeemed soul - the Millennial Kingdom of
God. The Christian’s HOPE is CONDITIONAL
- conditioned upon us suffering for righteousness, on our ‘trust’
and our ‘desire’:-
1.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because
of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when
people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me" (Matt. 5: 11, 12).
2.
"Co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Rom. 8: 17b).
3.
"Then they returned to Lystra,
Iconium and
4.
"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers,
and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every
one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we
boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials
you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a
result you will be counted worthy of the
5.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present
age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing
[Gk., ‘appearance of the glory.’] of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and
to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good"
(Tit. 2: 11-14).
If
only the Holy Spirit would open our eyes to more of these truths, we would
instantly realise why there is so much apathy in our churches and assemblies
today. May the Lord quicken His redeemed
people by granting us the determination and power to do His will.
(John 9: 30, 31, 39, 41).
How
contrary are the teachings of the Holy Scriptures to the teachings of today
with which we are so accustomed to hearing. How fearful it will be for the
false teachers and men-pleasers in the day of judgment: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the
body, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5: 10).
Let
us ‘press on,’ for only the overcomers will win ‘the PRIZE’
and the ‘CROWN’. (Phil. 3: 12-14; Rev. 3: 31). "For,
as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many [Christians] live as enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. 3: 18).
We
may note that the course of events in the world around us point to these events
being closer at hand, and it behoves us to set our house in order while we may,
and to be ever watching and waiting for the our Saviour’s second advent which
will bring to an end this dispensation.
"EVERY WRITER WHO IS CONSENTRATING PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE SECOND ADVENT, NOR SHRINKS FROM ITS SOLEMN
IMPLICATIONS EVEN FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD, IS ACCOMPLISHING A WORK
OF INCALCULABLE IMPORT."
Christ is coming! Let creation
From her groans and travail cease;
Let the glorious proclamation
Hope restore and faith increase:
Christ is coming!
Come, Thou blessed Prince of Peace.
Earth can now but tell the story
Of Thy bitter cross and pain;
We shall yet behold Thy glory,
When Thou comest back to reign:
Christ is coming!
Let each heart repeat the strain.
Long Thine exiles have been pining,
For from rest, and home, and Thee:
But, in heavenly vestures shining,
They their loving Lord shall see:
Christ is coming!
Haste the joyous jubilee.
With that blessed HOPE before us,
Let our joyful songs be sung,
Let the mighty advent chorus
Onward roll from tongue to tongue:
Christ is coming!
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
JOHN
ROSS MACDUFF, 1818-95.