The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 26, 2006
In
This Issue:
Lost
by
Steve Klein
At
A Moment You Do Not Expect
by
Matthew Allen
LOST
A popular television show depicts a group of plane crash survivors stranded on a tropical island. The characters on the TV series, which is aptly entitled LOST, all have dark pasts that appear to account for their presence on the island. Robinson Crusoe and Gilligan have nothing on these fictional castaways, whose lives are daily filled with mystery, uncertainty and mutual mistrust.
The word lost also aptly describes the spiritual condition of the majority of people in the world today (cf. Matthew 7:13). They are lost because they have followed the twisted paths of poor choices, sins and misdeeds. They are so lost that they don't know how to get home. They've no idea where to turn or which direction to take.
Sadly, Satan has done an excellent job of keeping the lost from consulting the map that shows them where they are and how to get home. Using cunning devises such as humanism, false science, liberal theology and modernism, Satan has been successful in getting much of the world to doubt that Christ is truly God's Son and that the Bible is God's word. Truly, as Paul said, "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:3).
The lost need a rescuer - a Savior. "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The Lord promised to "bring the blind by a way that they knew not." He said, "I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16). But the lost must recognize their Rescuer, and be willing to follow Him.
The trouble is that, although the lost are truly lost, they may not know it. In the parable of the lost coin, the coin has no awareness of its condition, but it is still lost. Even so, many in the world are lost, but don't know it. "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19).
Yes, many are lost. Few if any of the lost will read this article. Who will inform them that they're lost? Who will tell them about the gospel? Who will point them to their Savior? Will you?
-- Steve Klein
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, Acts 1:9-10. From that time until the present, men have been anxiously awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Throughout the centuries, some men have even tried to predict His second coming. Should we believe the predictions of when Christ will return? One thousand years ago as a new millennium approached, men were trying to predict the second coming of Jesus Christ. Stories of people destroying all of their earthly possessions, going out to the highest hill and awaiting the return of the Savior were common. All predictions were proven false.
Moving closer to our time, certain religious groups have made bold predictions even specifying the place, date, and time of return. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses have made many such claims over the last one hundred thirty years:
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1889 - The 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' ...which will end in A.D. 1914...is already commenced.
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1904 - The stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between 1910 and 1912 - culminating...October 1914.
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1914 - The great crisis, the great clash...is very near. Armageddon may begin next spring.
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1922 - The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914. (The previous date [1914] was proven to be false.)
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1923 - Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. The Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.
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1925 - The year 1925 is here. Many confidently expect that all members of the body of Christ will be changed into heavenly glory during this year.
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1926 - Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything!
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1930 - The great climax is at hand.
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1941 - Armageddon is surely near..soon..within a few years.
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1946 - Armageddon..should come sometime before 1972.
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1969 - Within months, or at the most five years, the end of the world as we have known it will occur and a thousand year reign of Jesus will begin.
It is amazing that ANY MAN would try to make a prediction of Christ's return when we read the words of Jesus Himself in the gospel accounts. Notice what Jesus instructed His apostles.
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Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
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Matthew 24:42, 44 - Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming; Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
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Mark 13:32-33 - But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch, and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
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2 Pet. 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, as the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Are you prepared for the return of Christ? There is no need to trust in the dates that men make up. We need only to obey the gospel of Christ, influence others to do the same, and heed His words in Mk. 13:37 - And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
-- Matthew Allen