While walking along Commerce Street in KAITAIA / New Zealand today, I ran into a brother in Christ wearing a T – shirt with the above writing on the front.
We got talking and it turned out that he is from South Africa, engaged in the work of the Lord and the guest speaker at one of the Churches here in this area. He is making the T – shirts himself.
“Thief in the night” I am reading in one of our local papers. It is the first item under the heading “IN BRIEF”. (The Northland Age, Tuesday, April, 24, 2012)
I remember straight away that I am reading about a “thief in the night” somewhere else, namely in the BIBLE.
The BIBLE teaches about the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and says that the Time of His Coming is Unknown. (Matthew 24:36)
But the BIBLE teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ…..
1. …..”‘will come when least expected.'”(Luke 12:40)
2. …comes “‘as the lighting flashes in the east and shines to the west,.. ‘” (Matthew 24:27)
3. …will come “like a thief in the night.” (First Thessalonians 5:2) Also Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15.
Are you ready. Are you ready all the time? Are you watching for the Lord? You are blessed if you do!
“The Machine That Would predict the FUTURE” is a TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL REPORT by David Weinberger and I am very much interested of course. (Scientific American, December 2011)
David Weinberger begins the SPECIAL REPORT with:
“If you dropped all the world’s data into a black box, could it become a crystal ball that would let you see the future – even test what would happen if you chose A over B? One researcher thinks so, and he could soon get a billion euros to build it.”
I read the BIBLE and believe what the BIBLE says!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY CONCERNING THE ORIGINS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
The Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. You can read that in the gospel of Luke, Luke 2:4-7.
But there is also a prophecy in the BIBLE that the Lord would be born in Bethlehem. You find the prophecy in the BIBLE in the Old Testament in the book of Micah, Micah 5:2.
The Lord Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. Please read that in Matthew 1:18,22,23
And here is the prophecy that the Lord would be born of a virgin. You find the prophecy in the book called Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14.
There are more prophecies of course.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
The BIBLE says that He would suffer and make atonement for sin. We find the prophecy in Isaiah 53:4-6.
Where is the fulfillment? The fulfillment is recorded in Second Corinthians 5:21
The Bible says also that the Lord would ride into the city of Jerusalem on an ass. We find the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9.
Where is the fulfillment? On the Sunday called Palm Sunday is the fulfillment of this. Please read Matthew 21:2-5.
“IS YOUR HEART IN CHRISTCHURCH?”, asks the GHD advertisement. (The Aucklander, 22 March 2012)
The above question reminded me again that my heart is in the city called “New Jerusalem.” (Mount Zion)
The ad says also: “GHD have been heavily involved in the earthquake response and early recovery work. One year on and we’re in the exciting phase seeking passionate people to help us rebuild Christchurch.”
Let us see what the Bible says about the city called “New Jerusalem”:
1. It is “a city with eternal foundations,…” (Hebrews 11:10)
2. It is “a city designed….. by God.” (Hebrews 11:10)
3. It is “a city……. built by God.” (Hebrews 11:10)
4. It is “a better place,…”(Hebrews 11:16)
5. It is “a heavenly homeland.” (Hebrews 11:16)
6. It is a city prepared by God. (Hebrews 11:16)
7. It is “the city of the living God,…” (Hebrews 12:22)
8. It is “the heavenly Jerusalem,…” (Hebrews 12:22)
9. It is the “holy city”. (Revelation 22:19)
I think after reading about the city called “New Jerusalem” you can understand that my heart is in “Mount Zion”.
In front of the New Lynn Library in Auckland you can see a monument with the following writing: “LEST WE FORGET – In memory of those who served and gave their lives.”
When I read that today I straight away thought: LEST WE FORGET – IN MEMORY OF HIM WHO SERVED AND GAVE HIS LIFE.
I am thinking now of course, about the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It is all very well to think about the people who died in the wars. I also lost my father in the Second World war. I never knew him. I never met him. I have no memories of him. In fact I don’t even know where he died. Probably it was in Czechoslovakia. Maybe it was not. Who knows?
So far as I know, his name is not written on one of those monuments.
There are also many like me who grew up without a father. It is sad to grow up without a father; but sometimes you have no choice, and I didn’t.
We should not forget our dead soldiers who died in battle. But if we should forget, there are not too many consequences. But if we forget the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for us there are eternal consequences. We are all living forever, either with the Lord or without him.
Because in order to stand before God the Father, we need the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, because we are all sinners. As we are born we cannot stand before God, the Father. When the Lord Jesus Christ becomes our personal Saviour, God becomes our heavenly Father and looks after us. From my own experience, I can say it is so good to be able to say: “My Father in Heaven.”
“IS YOUR HEART IN CHRISTCHURCH?”, asks the GHD advertisement. (The Aucklander, 22 March 2012)
