Good Morning,
There was this fellow called Dave, driving on highway 101 between Arcata and Eureka, when suddenly he got a phone call from his wife calling him in a panic, warning him:
Dave, I just
heard an alert on the radio: there is a car driving the wrong way between
Arcata and Eureka on 101. So please be careful.’
I know Dave said, I just saw that car, but let me tell you: there isn’t
just one car – there are dozens of them!’
When is the last time you were warned or got a warning?
How often are we being warned, but we either don’t recognize it as a warning, or we don’t want to hear it, we think we are just fine, and we don’t need any prompting
Let me illustrate this with an example: After the devastating 2017 fire destroying 5600 structures in and around Santa Rosa. And after the fire that destroyed the town of Paradise Ca, in 2018, PG&E filed for bankruptcy.
Earlier this summer they gave a “dire warning”, that they would turn off the power when fire conditions would warrant it, in all areas that were prone to wild fires in Northern California,
When PG&E made this announcement, most people in Humboldt County shrugged their shoulders, thinking this was not going to affect us, not here in Humboldt County, particularly on the coast with cool and moist conditions.
By the way, with two power plants capable of supplying most of the demand in this area, there was no need to worry; most of us thought we would be fine.
Then, late afternoon on October 8th, PG&E send out a Power Shutoff Notification.
It was based on “Red Flag Warnings” of dry conditions and high winds on the inland mountain tops. The power was going to be turned off at midnight, for an unforeseen time in most of Northern California, including Humboldt County.
Suddenly chaos broke out. Long lines at gas stations, supermarkets, and sure enough midnight came, and Humboldt went dark, and complete silence set in………
Those, who had paid attention to the early warning signs were prepared and did okay.
But for most, who had ignored those warnings, found themselves scrambling for basic needs like a cup of coffee, some food or a warm shower or gas for their car …(pause)..
What does the bible say about warnings?
The Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah sternly warned the Jewish’s people, to turn from their wicked ways.
The last book of the Old Testament is Malachi.
After Malachi there is 400 year period of silence, until Matthew the first book of the NT describes John the Baptist leading the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ.
The four Gospels recorded 37 miracles and 39 parables; they describe the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, capturing the Good New Message.
But is Luke 21, Jesus gives six profound predictions, which today would be analogous with “Red Flag Warnings”.
Those warnings baffled and surprised the folks listening to him, but Jesus concludes with providing hope and assurance.
In today’s vernacular we would say: “We Shall Overcome”.
This brings us to the reading in Luke 21:5-19, which can be found on page……..of your pew bible
But before reading the word of God, please bow down in prayer.
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find wisdom, and in your will, discover your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, dedicated to God, he said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” 7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. 9“When you hear of wars and insurgencies, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful warnings and great signs from heaven. 12“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you, and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words, and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed, even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all, because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls. ……………..(pause)
Jesus said these things only days before his crucifixion, in the presence of his disciples while in Jerusalem.
When he said in verse 6: not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”, this warning proved to be spot on.
Indeed a few decades later in 70 AD, the Romans ransacked and plundered Jerusalem. Thousands were killed and the Temple came down, stone by stone.
All that is left of the Temple today is its foundation which serves as the Wailing Wall, a place of prayer and pilgrimage sacred to the Jewish people.
On the same place where the temple once stood, the Muslims built the al-Aqsa mosque including the Dome of the Rock, in the 8th-Century.
Then Jesus said in verse 8; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is near!’
For the last 2000 years there have been predictions about the time being near.
-The Jewish Essene sect of ascetics, saw the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 66-70AD, as the final end time battle.
-French bishop Hilary of Poitiers, announced that that the end of the World would happen in the year 365AD.
-Pope Sylvester II predicted the end of the World in the year 1000.
-Columbus in his “Book of Prophesies” predicted end times in 1658.
-Jim Jones, the founder of people’s temple predicted that a nuclear holocaust would take place in 1967.
-Pat Robertson predicted in his TV program, that the World would come to an end in 1982.
-Harold Camping of “Family Radio” predicted the final day would be May 21 2011.
Jesus was right, many claimed to know and made predictions, but they were all wrong.
Then He said in verse 10: Nation will rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom.
Since then there have been countless wars, but at no time in history was there as much bloodshed as during the Second World War.
This was the epitome of the “Nation against Nation” prediction. According to the Borgenproject.org an estimated 70 million people died between 1939 and1945.
And then he said in verse 1111there will be great earthquakes.
Doing some research I found that the Geological Society of America (GSA) classifies a great earthquake as an event exceeding 8+ on the Richter scale.
According to a GSA report, the annual number of “great” (8+) earthquakes nearly tripled over the last decade.
Between 2004 and 2014, 18 earthquakes with magnitudes of 8.0 or higher, were recorded around the globe. That’s an increase of 265% over the average rate of the previous century, which saw 71 “great” quakes,
In verse 11 Jesus said: and there will be dreadful warnings and great signs from heaven. The increased occurrence of deadly wildfires in the last several years makes one truly wonder about this prediction.
Then he said: they will arrest you and persecute you.
The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, based in Hamilton, Massachusetts, has estimated that 100,000 Christians die annually for their faith.
According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians are denied, fundamental human rights solely based on their faith.
Of the world’s three largest religions, Christians are the most persecuted with 80% of all cases, while they make up only 33% of the world’s population.
An organization called “Open Doors” published their annual “World Watch List”, earlier this year.
They reported that 245 million Christians around the world experience high levels of persecution for their choice to follow Jesus, including torture, forced conversion, murder and genocide.
In verse 13 Jesus said: This will give you an opportunity to testify. Some of the most moving and powerful testimonies come from Christians in Countries where they that are denied their faith, but also from well-known public figures who came to Christ.
The other morning I heard the story about Kanye West, the rap music artist who’s known for writing music with an array of expletives and vulgarity.
A few weeks ago he released his newest album titled “Jesus is King”.
He had a conversion, and he said in an interview: quote: My job is to spread the Gospel and let people know what Jesus has done for me.
There was a time I was letting you know what high fashion had done for me, but now I’m letting you know what Jesus has done for me, and in that I’m no longer a slave, I’m a son now, a son of God. I’m free,”
Since the release of the album there has a notable rise in google searches of bible verses.
The American Bible Society, jumped on this story and set up a link abs.bible/Kanye, for anyone interested in receiving a free copy of the bible. ABS reported that Thousands of bibles have already been sent out.
Actor Anthony Hopkins, once was an atheist, but he changed his view to embrace God’s existence.
He told an audience at a recent public event, that at one time he struggled with alcoholism and he called himself (quote) “disgusted, busted and not to be trusted” but that a single question about God changed everything.
Last year at the annual LEAP Conference, an event that focuses on youth leadership and success, Hopkins, shared his testimony ………
Jesus concludes his warnings on a most inspiring and uplifting note in verses 18 and 19, when he makes the case for “We Shall Overcome”, by saying:
But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.
In other words, despite false preachers, despite wars, despite the increase in great earthquakes, despite devastating wild fires, despite the persecution of Christians , there is a promise and assurance that in Christ “We Shall Overcome”.
Jesus said in john 3:16 whoever believes in me, shall not perish but have eternal life.
And in John 11:25-26 Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
Friends, a belief in Jesus Christ is the key to life eternal…..
Reading the bible, reading books, going to church, singing the hymns, all those things are good, but true belief comes when you start a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Let me illustrate this with an example.
A few weeks ago we went to see a performance of Beethoven’s violin concerto by the Eureka Symphony. Beethoven wrote only one violin concerto, it is truly a master piece.
This violin concerto is one of my all-time classical favorites and I have probably listened to it on tape, CD or I-tunes over a hundred times.
But sitting in that audience in the Arkley Center, listing and watching the orchestra with Canadian soloist, Liana Berube playing the violin. Witnessing that in person, was such a thrilling experience, enough to give you goose bumps.
Sitting there, I couldn’t help but think of the difference of reading about Jesus versus having a relationship ship with him ourselves.
We can go to church, we can read books, just like listening to the music on You-Tube or I-tunes, but nothing equates to being there, and watch and listen to a live performance, so it is, when Jesus comes into our hearts.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts, through faith;
And to the Galatians he wrote in Galatians 2:20:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Friends, Christ lives in the hearts of believers, he is amongst us in heart and spirit. Isn’t this awesome; the person we look up to, is amongst us.
Last month we attended the PMA show in Anaheim. 30,000 people from Produce and floral industry attend this tradeshow once a year, and the event that is recognized the world over.
At the opening breakfast, the keynote speaker was Magic Johnson. He gave an inspiring speech, but rather than giving this speech from the mainstage, Magic Johnson jumped of the stage.
He spent the majority of the time walking through the audience while giving his life’s story and intermittingly talking the members of the audience, signing jerseys, and posing for pictures. It was unique presentation.
It is like that, when you invite Jesus into your heart, he will walk with you and talk to you.
Jesus said in John 16:33 : 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.
In other words, in Christ “We Shall Overcome”, when we believe deep in our hearts,
Don’t wait any longer, start a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You may ask: what do I need to do to make this happen?
Here is the answer: say this simple prayer:
Jesus: come into my life, I will repent of my sins.
I want to trust and follow you, and I accept you as my Lord and Savior..
Friends, no matter how bad the odds may appear “We Shall Overcome”.
Jesus will guide us through the jungle of life.
And when that time comes, he will lead us through that narrow gate into the Kingdom of Heaven,
Thank you
God Bless you,
Amen
.
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