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Approaching Trumpets |
Dear Brethren,
With the fall Holy Days quickly
approaching, our minds should increasingly be on the Plan of God. The
Feast of Trumpets pictures the time when Jesus Christ will return to the earth
in great power. Let's ask ourselves these questions: Who will Christ
come against, and who will Christ return
to? It seems that no matter who responds to these
questions, the answer is always the same. "Jesus Christ is returning to
us, and He is coming against everyone
else." Well, as the old adage goes, "Everyone can't be
right!" The truth of the matter is that many who think that they "have it
made" are going to be seriously disappointed when Jesus returns against the
unchristian peoples of this world. "The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)
When we called into God's Church, we believed that the Church would keep getting larger and
larger until Christ returned. Things did not work out that way.
In fact, the true brethren have been scattered in every direction, even as the
approach of Jesus Christ has grown ever closer. Many people departed the faith
all together. "Because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12) "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first..." (2Thessalonians 2:3)
What are we to do now? The Feast of Trumpets shows that Christ
is going to return and intervene in world affairs. If we want Jesus to
return to us, we had better be practicing the first principles of Christ
with an earnest expectation that the Plan of God is going to be fulfilled.
How do we prepare? We should be working to patch up the injured and
round up those who were driven away by force and cruelty. However, here is
what Jesus will say to some. "The diseased have ye not strengthened,
neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which
was broken, neither have ye brought again
that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with
force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." (Ezekiel 34:4)
The answer lies in practicing true Christianity. Prophecy tells us that the Plan of God is
going to be fulfilled, but only by practicing Christianity will we be a part of God's
Kingdom. What can we hope to achieve at this late
date? It is not a matter of building a great lasting earthly
endeavor. All organizations and establishments of man throughout
history have fallen apart - or soon will. How can we expect to
accomplish anything or amount to anything? Good question! Where do
we find the hope to continue? Should we even try, or should we just give
up? The answer lies in believing that God's Plan is going to be
accomplished.
Realize that even the first century Church of God fell
apart and was scattered to the four winds. It grew and
prospered for a little while, and then was lost to history. Paul wrote
about that first break-up of the Church when everyone in Asia left him.
For true Christians at that time, it was extremely difficult. Did God
intend for His Church, established on the first Pentecost, to become ever
larger and larger? No. Christ called His Church "the little
flock." (Luke 12:32) It should be clear at this point in history
that nothing is permanent on this earth. Nothing on earth is enduring,
not organizations of men, not even God's Temple at Jerusalem - nothing,
that is, except the Spirit of God in the children of God - it alone,
remains. Be mindful of this one thing - God's Plan is sure.
To
some, it may seem that God's Plan has become side tracked. But, we know
better than that - God's Plan is on track. When we stop and think about
it, down deep we know it. Jesus Christ is working out every detail of
His Plan to usher in the Kingdom of His Father. The firstfruits of the
better resurrection will be harvested at the last trumpet.
In order to get a better focus on our present circumstance, let's step
back far enough back to see the larger panorama of history. We are
privileged to be able to see all the Church eras as they unfolded from that
first century until now. Only the end time Church is able to recognize
that God's Plan is right on schedule. It is coming to fruition, even
now. So much fulfillment of prophecy is obvious to us, and
better than that, we are the recipients of the Gospel message that was
prophesied to go to the ends of the earth at the very end time. We are that
close to the Kingdom of God being established on this earth!
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world
for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come." (Matthew 24:14)
What should we be doing with the precious wisdom we possess? Today,
it seems as though many of our brethren are standing around saying to
themselves, "I wish somebody would do something." They reason, "If only a
great leader would arise, I would surely lend a helping hand." Let's
remember that God the Father has placed us in the Body where it pleases
Him. Wherever we find ourselves today - it is the right place to live our
Christianity as a demonstration to others with whom God is working.
Brethren, what are we to be doing now? God tells us we should recognize that things are coming to
a head. This world desperately needs what we have to give. We
cannot allow ourselves to grow weary. Jesus asks the question, "Will I
find faith when I return," (Luke 18:8) indicating that we will not be
a huge group at His return. God's Plan is definitely on track and on
schedule. We have no choice but to maintain our idealism, our fervor,
and our zeal for the truth.
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| Sermon: |
"Approaching Trumpets"
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