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God is in full
Control
As we came to the close
of 1999, there were many predictions that the world will cease
to exist, as we knew it. Some went further and painted in our
minds doomsday scenarios that had airplanes dropping from the
sky and exploding on the defenseless planet earth where we are.
Some people, taking nothing to chance, decided to take these
doomsday projections seriously. Some stocked up foodstuffs to
last them months just in case. There were rumors that others dug
up underground abodes ostensibly to escape the imminent
apocalypse.
The world, we were told, was to be plunged into total darkness
and operational chaos as the computer-operated electricity
systems ground to a deadly halt. To sum it all up, many believed
that the world would cease to exist beyond year 2000.
Though all these doomsday predictions came unstuck, there are
many signs that the end of the world is not very far off. The
September 11 terrorist attacks on New York’s twin towers that
used to seat the World Trade Center is a shocking reminder of
just how fragile and insecure the world still is. The pounding
of Afghanistan by American and British forces has given the
world a sneak preview of the potential of the lethal weapons
that man has come up with. The fact that there are vast
biological and chemical weaponry that are believed to be in the
hands of people who have no scruples or regard for human life,
is shocking. I believe that given the chance, man will
ultimately self-destruct. All it will take is a madman with
nuclear arsenal to unleash such terror and destruction that no
one will be alive – the madman included – to document it.
Looking at the number of countries that possess nuclear arsenal,
it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out a possible
scenario.
And that’s not the end of the story. The simmering crisis in the
Middle East is another powder keg that is fast approaching the
explosion node. The blood-soaked streets of Jerusalem and the
Gaza strip are a constant reminder that what happened in New
York on September 11, 2001, is mere routine in the Middle East.
News of suicide bombers in Israel have been so intermittent that
most of us no longer bother to take in the details – after all
it’s just another suicide bomber in the Middle East! Isn’t that
part of their daily grind? we ask.
As we embark on year 2002, there are a number of lessons that we
should learn from recent events. Below are some of the vital
lessons we should not forget.
God is still in control
Most of us thought that the world would end on the midnight of
1999. We are still here and the world is still the same old
world. If you have never seen a false prophet, look up the
doomsday prophets that told us to prepare for the final
annihilation of mankind – you would be looking straight into the
face of one.
In a world that has put more trust in technology than in God, we
have once more been reminded that God, not the computers, is in
control. In our efforts to rationalize incidences and accidents,
we tend to forget that God created everything (Gen 1:1). None
other but God laid the very foundations of the earth. Only God
knows the architecture of the earth. He is the one who created
it and He is the only one who knows how to destroy it.
Man will not self-destruct
I’m making this statement in the full knowledge that a good
number of readers will disagree. Developments in technology and
weaponry have led many to believe that man will ultimately
destroy himself. If the world and its fullness belongs to God,
who gave man the right to destroy it? In our attempts to
rationalize issues, we have concluded that the world will be
destroyed by nuclear arsenal. I have said above that given
the chance, man will ultimately destroy himself. However, I
believe that God will not give man that chance. We think we know
what it will take to crush the world but we don’t know even the
half of it! Only God knows and only He will destroy the world.
Prophet Jeremiah (51: 15) leaves no doubt as to who is in
control of the earth when he says: ‘He has made the earth by his
power; he has established the world by his wisdom, and has
stretched out the heavens by his understanding’. David, despite
his many victories over the enemies of Israel, was fully aware
that the architect of both heaven and earth was none other but
God himself (Psalms 102: 25). If God were to destroy the world
by nuclear power, He would have said as much in the Bible. We
should desist from making deductions based on our understanding
but should, rather, take the Word of God as is without
attempting to justify it based on what we know or think.
Many times I ask myself why we treat the Bible as a book of
riddles. Every time we read a scripture or a verse, we
immediately engage our mind in search for a hidden meaning. Must
there always be implied meaning in every scripture we read? If
God says He will send fire from heaven to destroy the
world, must we equate this with proliferation of nuclear
weaponry? I believe that if God says He will send fire from
heaven, that is exactly what He will do. Isn’t He the same who
said ‘let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay nay …’? (Matt. 5:
37)? He is not a God of the abstract. What He says He will do is
what He exactly does.
I
believe the Bible is the plainest book that was ever written.
God knew that if His Word was made too abstract, it would have
ended up confusing mankind. When the Old Testament prophets
communicated God’s message to the Israelites, it was in the
plainest words possible: ‘thus says the Lord..’. When Jesus
spoke in parables, He made sure He explained their meaning as
plainly as possible. Of course I’m not suggesting that the
scriptures should not be explained, as this is crucial for
people to understand them. What I’m against is the attempt by
some overzealous expositors of the Word to dig for a hidden
meaning even where there is none. The dangers of doing this
cannot be overemphasized. John the revelator knows this all too
well. In Revelation (22:18) Jesus sends out a stern warning to
all those that may try – knowingly or unknowingly – to distort
the Word of God.
Mankind may conjure up as many lethal weapons as he may deem
fit. He may even possess the capability to destroy the world.
That’s okay. However, only God will destroy the world for its
corruptness and sin. The only consolation is that the saints,
the righteous ones, will be spared (1 Cor 15: 51-52).
The end is near – very near!
I
have this from an indisputable authority – Jesus. It is Him who
said that when we start seeing brother rising against brother,
nations against nations, wars and rumors of war, then we should
know that the end is near (Mark 13: 7-13 ). The perpetual Middle
East crisis, the ongoing war in Afghanistan, civil wars in
Africa, famine and pestilences all over the world, the recent
terrorist attacks in New York, and many more, are evidences of a
world hurtling down to a gruesome end! Let us not seek for
predictions from such sayers as Nostradamus. Do we know the hour
or the time? No! No one knows, not even the angels (Mark 13:
32). But we know from indisputable authority that it will be
soon – very soon. Better get your act together! Get on your
knees and pray!
I
Will Trust God – No Matter What!
There are many lessons that I have personally learnt from the
events of the last couple of years. Most important I have learnt
to trust God and His Word. It’s only Him who holds all the
answers. All our efforts to explain eternity will fall pitifully
short if they are outside the realm of God. The Bible says that
the foundation of the Lord stands sure. In a world where
everything is shaky and unpredictable, the Word of God still
remains. Heaven and earth will surely pass away, but God’s Word
will forever stand. With such a buttress to lean on, what can I
fear? What can mortal man do to me? I have everything I need as
long as I have Jesus on my side. The same goes to you if you are
born again. You have a sure foundation. If you are not born
again and you are reading this message, then it means you have a
few moments. The next section is dedicated especially for
you.
Salvation is now – tomorrow is judgment!
If there was ever an appropriate time to get saved, NOW is that
time. A delay, even by a minute, to make this all-crucial
decision could cost you eternity. The writing, as they say, is
already on the wall. You have seen the signs of the end. You
know you must be born again of the spirit of God. You know you
will burn if you don’t bow and swallow your prejudices and
accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Eternity stands at the
door of your heart. Won’t you open it? Can’t you hear the faint
sound of trumpets as the angels embark on the final rehearsal?
Where would you rather spend eternity – in hell or with Jesus?
You don’t have to say a complicated prayer. Just yell out to God
as one about to drown. You are desperately clutching on the last
straw. There is no time to think of what they will say –
after all they are themselves drowning in their sins. It’s now
or never! Just drop your inhibitions – none matters anyway – and
yell: Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner, forgive me and save me NOW!
If you have prayed this prayer, you are out of danger. Eternity
with Jesus is guaranteed. Send me an email (img@swordofthespiritministries.net)
or a letter by mail to let me know so that I can assist you in
any way I can. If you are still in the valley of decision, I can
only pray for you. Pray that judgment day will find you on the
right side of the valley.
By Innocent Mwangi,
14 January 2002 |
