I am finding this 2020 Advent providing me a unique perspective with a depth not usually associated with this season, being perhaps the only positive influence possibly exerted by the pandemic and the election. After listening to the Advent message today, I realize it is now considerably easier to identify with the plight of the children of Israel who certainly had their fill of tyranny under Roman rule while dreaming of being delivered from their present and future continuing oppression. But at least they clearly knew who their oppressors were! Which is more than many of us tonight either know or are willing to admit.
But never fear. This is the very season that Christians have for centuries throughout all sorts of unrest, calamities, disasters, uprisings, wars, depressions, etc., simply set aside all the bad news seeking to over whelm them, and choose rather to concentrate on the birth of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Savior to the Gentiles.
Recently in a letter to two young intellectuals quite comfortable with the globalists agenda to perform a Re-Set, I took the time to write out Chapter Three from II Peter from the Message version.
“My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed by your apostles.
First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happening to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything is going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”
They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought back the chaos in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to the give the signal for the judgement and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
The Day the Sky Will Collapse
But when the Day of God’s Judgement does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth, and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgement.
Since everything here today might be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day – but we’ll barely notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.
So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: Salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom on these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.
But you, friends, are well warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing, and get swept off your feet by these lawless loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our master and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
II Peter 3:1-I8
“Graphic? Perhaps. But the demographics of the North American 501 (c) 3 churches are continuing their projected demise. I take encouragement historically that the “apostolic remnant of mostly underground believers” for the 1000 years following Constantine survived and thrived during both the invading barbarians and the gothic cathedral establishment until the Renaissance “spring” emerged and the Reformation bloomed but, ultimately, actually withered. Realistically though, may I suggest, on the basis of Martyr’s Mirror accounts, those believers were much better prepared both spiritually and physically than we are today for the rigors of such turmoil.
And so now to a large extent, perhaps your parents, and others of my generation, often can’t debate with you the specific truths convincingly, but I propose we with decades of experiential Holy Spirit savvy know deep in our hearts, minds and souls, that something is dreadfully amiss in this current narrative and that we indeed are being “schnookered” down-stream toward certain disaster ….. Some of my generation refer to this current conflict of rebellion and lawlessness as possibly having even higher stakes for our country than the Revolutionary War with the British. And perhaps so!
So may I submit to you that times now are not so very different from when Jesus was born. The Roman political, economic, and social undercurrents were similar to those today and religiously, there were many gods versus the One and Only True God who is about to offer his only Son as the final sacrifice for our pardons. True, the instant hype and drama as is visible today on screens everywhere, were then, noticeably absent. Perhaps we need to mimic the shepherds the historic night of our Savior’s birth and simply wait for the “real deal in the skies” to occur and until then, totally tune out today’s fear mongering media and focus only on God’s message to us from the Bethlehem gospel narrative. I challenge you to read the Christmas story. Then ponder as did Mary, the “real miraculous narrative” from the Bible as foretold in OT prophecy. I find these truths indeed permanently put to rest the “chatter” and media “noise” that is so counterproductive for today’s believers.
I am hoping if perchance Christmas’s prior were merely a “Hallmark” event for you to enjoy family during the holidays, that today’s “uncertainties” accosting our culture and Christianity will provide you the impetus to closely examine your life to that of eternity, while you possibly replay your withering incriminating self-centered narrative. May this be the Best Christmas you have ever experienced! Thank God for the 2020 uncertainty and adversity! And for the Biblical “narrative” that ultimately points to securing our eternal life providing us internal peace. So, whether this be your first time “Christmas” experience or a renewal, who are you going to tell first?
See, therein lies the evidence of our biggest problem!
Blessings AS YOU GO FORTH>>>>> Or not… merlin