Abraham

Love of the Truth

Ken

The clarion call of the Christian is we love the Truth. The difference between a scientific principle, a mathematical fact, or an accurate record of a historical event being true and the Truth, is only the Truth can save us. History is full of discouraged baseball players, scientists, mathematicians, and historians who pursued the World Series, science, mathematics, or history, without changing society for the better. Why? Only the love of the Truth can save us. Too long have we allowed ourselves to be satisfied with substitutes for the Truth to satisfy us in our quest to navigate life, build families, pursue employment, advance our education, seek our leisure, establish a framework of government, balance our footprint on the earth, police our streets, defend our nation, pursue the boundaries of scientific understanding, right the inequities of society, all this and more. 

Every Christian will rightly agree the Truth is none other than Jesus Christ. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). The only reason the Truth can save anyone is because Jesus is the Truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We love the truth because Jesus is the Truth, and we love Jesus. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1John 4:19). 

Why such significance to loving the Truth? “10 And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned [Greek, krino, judged, damned] who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Thessalonians 2:10-12). Paul describes the circumstances of those who are left behind at the Rapture. 

Does this mean those left behind at the Rapture are forever condemned to Hell, if they were stubbornly resisting the Truth, when the Harpazō (Rapture) took place? If that were so, we should back away from evangelism to give people a chance for their repentance after the Rapture. Not hardly!

Let’s evaluate the Scripture. 

The Greek word krino in 2Thessalonians 2:12 can be correctly translated as “condemned” (2:12 NKJV), “judged” (2:12 NASB), or “damned” (2:12 KJV). Because we commonly think of damned as an eternal condition, e.g., Eternal Damnation, it gives us cause for interpreting 2Thessalonians 2:12 with this viewpoint; but, Scripture does not demand such a dire interpretation. 

How is this so? 

Possibly the most popular verse in the New Testament is John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). Two verses later, Jesus said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned [Greek, krino, damned]; but he who does not believe is condemned [Greek, krino, damned] already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 NKJV). 

How can anyone ever be saved, if they are damned? Evidently, you are condemned or damned, while you are not believing, but you are not condemned or not damned, while you are believing. If this were not so, then there is no Good News in the Gospel. And, we are Eternally Damned forever. 

But, there is still something profoundly different about the rejection of the Truth (2Thessalonians 2:12), or loving not the Truth (2:10) at the moment of the Rapture. Just as the coldest temperature is normally recorded immediately before the rising of the sun in the morning, the coldest reception to the Truth will come directly before the Rapture. 

Paul uses the words “strong delusion” (2:11). “Strong [Greek, energeia, superhuman power]” (2:11) refers to the supernaturalness of energy displayed by God in sending the “delusion [Greek, plano, deceit, delusion, error]” (2:11). This combination of words means it is not just any delusion, but the delusion made possible in the one time of human existence, when the Spirit indwelt humans are universally and instantaneously removed from the earth, taking away all restraint to the working of the wicked one. A floodgate of wickedness will be opened. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He [the Holy Spirit] is taken out of the way” (2Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV). 

Paul also uses the Greek word dunamis or “power” (2Thessalonians 2:9), when referring to the supernatural power being exercised by Satan at the time of the Rapture. By the way, this dunamis is also the supernatural power (but even greater) manifested by God in our salvation — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power [Greek, dunamis, supernatural power] of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

We need to pay careful attention to the use of the word “power” in NT Scripture. This is much like the symbols around electrical currents announcing “Danger Electrical Shock Hazard.” Just as we may hear stories of some electricians touching hot electrical wires without damage, others may become profoundly dead. Pay attention, when Scripture uses the word “power.” 

How often have we experienced a sense of powerlessness in our day-to-day lives, much less in our spiritual life? We need to reconnect to the truth of the Scriptures regarding supernatural or superhuman power. We need God’s supernatural power flowing through us by our love of the Truth. We need to adjust our expectation of God performing the Truth of His Word by demonstrating His power according to our love of Him, who is the Truth. 

In this instance, we prefer not to be insulated from God’s power: 

(1) By the resistance of sin in our lives, i.e., “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). 

(2) By the predominance of supernatural opposition, i.e., “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29). 

His power is a superhuman, transforming, subduing power. 

“Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working [Greek, energeia, superhuman power] by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). 

His power is a superhuman, death overcoming, resurrection power. 

“Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working [Greek, energeia, superhuman power] of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). 

Love of the Truth 

We need to stay alert to the enemy’s significant supernatural power by maintaining our love of Jesus, who is the Truth. That will not only overcome the wicked one, but will draw us closer to Jesus. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Prophecy is not intended to frighten us, but to appropriately warn us of what to expect from the enemy. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power [Greek, dunamis, supernatural power of God or Satan], signs, and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:9). 

We are not attempting to promote the Apostasy in order to see the return of the Lord. That will take care of itself. We are to go about our normal lives, but with the expectation of the imminent return of the Lord — by Rapture, if we are still here, or by Resurrection, if we have already gone Home to the Lord (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

You will note the Truth to be loved is things will overall, progressively get worse and worse, not better and better. That is not pessimism but prophecy. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:13). 

All of the defining epochs of humanity’s existence have ended in man’s failure. 

(1) Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden because of not trusting our Creator, but setting into motion the Messiah, who will be the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).

(2) The world was destroyed with a worldwide flood because of our wickedness, but punctuated by rainbows, reminding us of God’s faithfulness (Genesis 9:13). 

(3) The world was divided into different languages and disbursed to overspread the world at the Tower of Babel because we defied the Living God, but the Almighty set apart faithful Abraham, who would be the spiritual father of Israel (Genesis 11). 

(4) The nation of Israel, who gave us the Scriptures (Romans 3:2), saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD because they rejected the Messiah, but God has given Himself the Church, a called out assembly, to evangelize the world with the aid of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). 

(5) The Church has wrestled with periods of hot for the Lord and cold indifference to the Truth to the point of a lukewarmness that sickens the Lord, where the Lord is outside the Church, knocking on the door seeking entrance (Revelation 3:20). 

UPDATE: Since I posted this blog entry, “Love of the Truth,” I have modified my thoughts about the overall progress of the Church in a world of “evil men and impostors [who] will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:13). I still believe overall, humanity and the world is getting worse and worse. I still believe the Church is characteristically lukewarm – “you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:20) – BUT I believe the Church will open the door to Christ knocking. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). The Church answering the knocking at the door is the Rapture. Proof of that is found nearly immediately after in the text, where only the Church can answer the door, and it is “a door standing open” (4:1). Also, the Trumpet Voice commands, “Come up here” (4:1), which is the Rapture. “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1). All of this demonstrates the Church’s Laodicean lukewarmness will end on a note of hot and not cold. This will be the fulfillment of Christ’s words to Peter, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Hallelujah!

Is this all part of the prophetic plan? 

Yes, because we are constantly being reminded of the truth of why we were created to glorify Him (Revelation 4:11) by our constant abiding with Him (22:3). 

Summary

Why do we love the truth of prophecy? 

The true purpose of prophecy is to bear testimony to the Person and Work of Jesus. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

Father, cause us to love the Truth of Your Word, as we are strangely attracted to it because of Jesus. Magnify Yourself by the fulfillment of Your Word, promises, and prophecies. May Your Kingdom come and will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Things To Come

Ken

“Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his [Cyrus’] Maker: Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me” (Isaiah 45:11 NKJV). 

Strange verse this. 

Isaiah 45 was written 150 years before Cyrus the Great was born and had conquered Babylon (539 BC). According to Josephus, Daniel handed this ancient scroll to Cyrus, containing the personal letter “To His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held — To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors [of the conquered city of Babylon]. So the gates will not be shut” (Isaiah 45:1). Cyrus was so impressed that he later authorized the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple (Ezra 1:1-4) previously destroyed by the Babylonians. 

Isaiah 45 argued the LORD’s case before Cyrus, “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd [Cyrus] strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him [the LORD] who forms it, What are you making? Or shall your handiwork say, He has no hands?” (Isaiah 45:9). In other words, who are you, Cyrus? You are the clay being formed into the potsherd. This is the same argument for God’s sovereign rule throughout history, e.g., Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17). 

Prophecy is history announced in advance. 

Skeptics claimed the Book of Daniel had to be written so much later in history, in order for Daniel 11 to so accurately forecast what actually took place. 

If we wrongly assume prayer is changing God’s mind to do as we ask, then it would concern us that the LORD invited Cyrus to command Him “concerning the works of My hands” (Isaiah 45:11). 

But, if we rightly understand prayer so changes us that it would be fitting for God to grant His will being done for us, then we can understand God telling Cyrus, “Concerning the work of My hands, you command Me” (Isaiah 45:11). Therefore, Cyrus could never command the LORD to do anything God was not already willing to do. 

Jesus the Messiah encouraged His disciples to seek to know the Father’s prophetic plans for the future based upon friendship. Friends share with friends. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). 

Israel is key to the fulfillment of God’s prophetic purpose in the world. 

Abraham is the traditional founder of the Jewish religion, the spiritual ancestor of Christians, and a major Islamic prophet. “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Judaism, as the predominant religion of Israel, recognizes God’s promises to Abraham for a regathering of the diaspora of Jews into a political nation (1948). “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). Prophecy guarantees a future spiritual birth of Israel, whom Jehovah identifies as “Israel My glory” (Isaiah 46:13). This spiritual birth will take place at the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah. “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children” (Isaiah 66:8). 

Consequently, prophecy is primarily about Israel (Daniel 9:24-27), and the Church is the unexpected branch grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel (Romans 11). Fulfillment of prophecy to an OT Jew was the coming of “Messiah the Prince” (Daniel 9:25, 26) to deliver Israel from oppression, e.g., deliverance from Rome in Christ’s day. The NT Book of Revelation is an unfolding of the OT prophecies with the understanding that Revelation 4-22 represents a Post-Rapture scenario incorporating the presence of Tribulation Saints — and, not Church Age Saints — in what would be the Tribulation Week or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). 

The Church does not replace Israel. 

Israel always had a place in God’s love. “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated” (Romans 9:13). Certainly there is no unrighteousness with God. “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22-23)? As a result, should we not rejoice in the mercy God has so sovereignly granted us? 

Israel does not become part of the Church, and the Church does not replace Israel. But, individual Jews do become part of the Church. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1Corinthians 12:13). Once the Church is removed at the Harpazō (1Thessalonians 4:17 Rapture), the prophecy timeline immediately focuses back to the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). 

Secular Israel today is subject to the displeasure of the Almighty for their obstinance in rejecting the Messiah, and for their obliviousness to the human rights of non-Jews in Israel occupied territory. Israel must be careful in its treatment of those with whom it disagrees, since “the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). 

Current day Israel’s mistake is to assume their blessing and dominance over those who do not recognize their right to exist, represents Heaven’s approval of whatever they feel is appropriate to support the Jewish state, even when they cast a blind eye to the Holy One of Israel. What is an All Wise God to do? “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (Romans 9:15). God’s toleration of Gentile or Jewish unrighteousness is no more His approval than for any sin; but, “surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain” (Psalm 76:10 KJV). The God of Prophecy will accomplish His will with Israel “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25-26 NIV). 

Jesus Said It Would Be This Way

[1] Jesus warned of the upcoming Disappearance or Snatching Away (Rapture) — “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, seize, snatch away] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17) — so many will undoubtedly repent and believe after they realize what they missed. “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29). 

“36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:36-51 KJV).

[2] Jesus warned of the upcoming Abomination of Desolation, which means 

[a] The Jews must be back in the land of Israel (1948). 

[b] A Temple must be rebuilt on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in order for

[c] Sacrifices to take take place during the Tribulation Week. 

[d] Antichrist will then commit the Abomination of Desolation demanding all to worship him as God in the middle of the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14 NKJV). Cp. “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). 

[3] Jesus outlined the events of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Tribulation Week) in the NT Book of Revelation. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1). 

[a] The Book of Revelation is a coherent outline of Church History until the New Heavens and New Earth. “Write the things which you have seen [PAST], and the things which are [PRESENT], and the things which will take place after this [FUTURE]” (Revelation 1:19).


[b] Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor are represented in Revelation 2-3. Each church represents a successive stage of Church History, beginning with the Apostolic Church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) and ending with the Lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). 

[c] Revelation 4:1 through 19:21 represent the events of the Tribulation Week (Seventieth Week of Daniel) culminating in the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21). 

[d] The Millennium is an actual 1,000 year period (Revelation 20:1-6), where Messiah Jesus reigns from Jerusalem on the Davidic Throne (Psalm 132:11-12), culminating in the Final Rebellion (Revelation 20:7-9), the casting of Satan into the Lake of Fire (20:10), the White Throne Judgment of the Wicked (20:11-15), then the New Heavens and New Earth (21:1-27), and Eternity beyond (22:1-20).

In conclusion, the study of Bible Prophecy is the capstone of understanding what God intends to do. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is the Author, Illuminator, and Teacher of Bible Prophecy. God will not leave His people without a Divine Guide to show us the way until we enter His presence with thanksgiving. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1Peter 4:7).

Prophecy is the ‘what’ that will happen of Things to Come, and all the rest of Scripture is only a glimpse of the ‘why’ of the Infinite Mind of God explaining His actions. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36 KJV).

Robbing God

Ken

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8 KJV). But, you say, “We’re not under OT Mosaic law, requiring the paying of tithes (Leviticus 27:30).” And, you’d be correct. But, the concept of tithing was long before the OT Mosaic law, going back to Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20), and Jacob vowing to pay a tenth or tithe of all that God gave him (Genesis 28:22), because tithing represents, God takes care of my business, while I take care of His business. Tithing is not even mentioned in the NT, but the concept remains. I take care of God’s business, while He takes care of my business. On the other hand, offerings are different from the tithing a tenth of one’s income to those who labor for the benefit of God’s Church. 

In particular, the First Fruits Offering (Leviticus 23:10) was a dedication of a portion of the beginning of the farmer’s harvest or income flow, and not the net result of income or harvest after all expenses had been paid, requiring an act of faith for the farmer to pay the First Fruits Offering. “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10 KJV). 

LORD, teach Your NT Church the power of blessing You’ve promised to unleash upon Your Church, when we grasp how magnanimous a God You are when we give our tithes and offerings to support Your Church and advance Your kingdom on earth. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.

The Courts of Heaven

Ken

God rules sovereignly from Heaven but not arbitrarily. In the Unseen Realm, “God [Hebrew, ělôhîym, ruler, judge, divine one, angel] has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Hebrew, ělôhîym] He holds judgment” (Psalms 82:1 ESV). With the Supreme Judge of All the Earth (Genesis 18:25), both Abraham and Moses pleaded cases before His court and won (Genesis 18:25; Numbers 14:13-20). Why should Yahweh allow Himself to be persuaded by a mere mortal in prayer? “Remind Me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to Me that you are right [Hebrew, tsadeq, acquitted, justified, vindicated, declared right]!” (Isaiah 43:26 NET). God desires us to enter into intimate relation with Him to form a more perfect union, when we argue our case in the Courts of Heaven using all our intellect, understanding, experience, emotion, and feeling, thus bonding to Him with all our strength for eternity. 

God Moments

Ken

We “can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13 KJV); but especially, when we have to do the seeming impossible, while we’re trying to do the right thing. The Israelites were called to exit Egypt only to be cornered by Pharaoh’s chariots at the Red Sea, but God delivered them. Abraham was promised offspring through Isaac, whom God now required to kill and sacrifice, until Jehovah was satisfied with Abraham’s faith. Then, a nearby ram was caught and substituted. God will do the same for you in your moment of need, because “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 KJV). Don’t be surprised by a miracle!

Canary in the Coal Mine

Ken

Just as canaries warned of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas in coal mines, antisemitism on American college campuses in support of Hamas and condemning Israel in the wake of the 2023 attacks against Israel from Gaza predict a future hatred for Christianity. Jews were initially targeted in Nazi Germany, but next Christians such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer were silenced, too. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3 KJV).

Walking With God

Ken

Man has a history of walking with God. Adam and Eve “heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8 KJV). The Voice was the Pre-Incarnate Christ, the Son of God, the Eternal Logos who was made flesh, walking in the garden with our parents. God seems to enjoy walking with man, too, for Enoch “walked with God” (5:22), until he apparently walked Home, “for God took him” (5:24). Some describe the Rapture as an Enoch Walk. Noah “walked with God” (6:9) and was chosen to rescue the world from the plague of the Nephilim. Abraham walked with the LORD, whom he trusted. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3 KJV). Moses walked with I AM and gave us understanding of how to live, “for the law was given by Moses” (John 1:17 KJV). The apostles walked with the Lord Jesus Christ. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1John 1:1-3 KJV). May we be counted among those who walk with God!

Poster Children for Hope

Ken

Abraham and Sarah are probably the best poster children for hope. The Living God promised Abraham at the age of 75 He would make of him a “great nation” (Genesis 12:2 KJV). Sarah was 65 years old. Twenty-five years later, Sarah bore Isaac. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER! “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:18-21 KJV). Glory only to God!