Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | October 2, 2017

The Tomorrowland in Your Future

Tomorrowland movie promotional photo by Walt Disney

It’s Coming, you can Count on That!

I saw this movie advertised on TV and decided to record it for future viewing; the other night I finally got around to watching it and enjoyed it enough to watch it all the way through and now I’ve ordered the disc to add to my collection of science fiction movies. As a science fiction fan I found it of interest as it told a story of time travel and adventure with the usual collection of good guys and bad guys.

From a theological perspective (everything in my life has a theological perspective) it falls into a familiar trap; human problems can be resolved by adjusting the environment. In this version a machine in the future is reaching back through time to influence the thinking of all mankind in a negative way; (spoiler alert) the answer is to blow up the machine and remove all of the negative influences that were causing all of mankind’s problems which is done by the good guys and gals.

From a science fiction movie point of view it is light entertainment designed for the younger audience; it is rated PG and is essentially free of gore and bad language and generally suitable for the family. The movie picks up on the very real feeling that there should be something better than what we have now; there must be a better way if we could only find it. I’m convinced this feeling of longing is based in part on the essential essence of who we are and how we’re made. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 it is written:

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

We have eternity set in our hearts; after all we are made in the image of God with all the resultant ramifications of that creative act. There will never come a time when you are not a living, self-aware life; you have been created to live forever. I find it fascinating how little that is taught; very few people live their lives with the realization of the true nature of their eternality.

Is Perfect Environment the Answer?

In Tomorrowland the implied message was the shutting down of the machine would bring peace and harmony to mankind; the movie ends with the destruction of the machine and the promise that all would now be well. This sad illusion has driven many as they sought to correct various perceived imperfections from the environment or the social or economic fabric of society; virtually all of the world’s “isms” have operated on this assumption and have failed miserably to accomplish their desired goals.

The Bible describes the futility of this hope in the Genesis narrative of the Garden of Eden and the Revelation narrative of the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. In both instances, one past and one future, the narrative shows beyond any doubt that perfect environment is not the answer. If a lack of a perfect environment is not the cause of man’s problem then what is the cause of man’s inability to achieve the utopian world of which he dreams?

The Bible provides a very clear answer indeed although the explanation doesn’t rank very high on the popularity scale; the cause of the problem is not external, it is internal! Mankind is, by it’s nature, a fallen race whose members are born spiritually dead and have no way to correct that condition by any means available to them. The Genesis narrative tells the sad story of mankind’s rebellion against God and his spiritual death; what is even more sad are the ramifications of Adam’s disobedience which resulted in the spiritual death of the entire human race. It is this death and the presence in all of Adam’s descendants, born of a human father, of an incurable virus called sin. I have written more on this in the essay Is There One Unforgivable Sin?

God’s Tomorrowland

No matter how big you can think your wildest imaginations are going to fall way short of the Tomorrowland God has planned for his family. The art work at the top of this essay sparks my imagination but it doesn’t even begin to compare with the description in Revelation 21:10-27 that tells us of the New Jerusalem.

God’s plan for the redemption of mankind is well underway and will ultimately see full realization at a time yet future. The vital first step has been taken by the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary; when our Lord spoke the words, “It is finished” God’s irresistible plan for the redemption of mankind had been put in place. I look forward with great joy and longing for its fulfillment and our entry into God’s Tomorrowland!

For Dreamers Only

The movie ends as a new tomorrowland is beginning to emerge which will be built and populated by dreamers; God’s tomorrowland is also a place for which we can dream. We can dream of a place where God is with us and He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. All who are thirsty may drink freely from the springs of the water of life.

There will be no temple in God’s tomorrowland, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And God’s tomorrowland shall have no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter into God’s tomorrowland in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.

 There shall be a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb and it shall flow down the center of the main street. On each side of the river will grow a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves shall be used for medicine to heal the nations.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.  And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever in God’s tomorrowland.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 25, 2017

A Temple’s Prayer of Homage to the Creator

Our Holy Father

We come before you humbled by the thought of your holy sovereignty; we acknowledge that you are the creator and all creation exists by you and for you. We rejoice that you are working all things after the counsel of your own will and have a perfect plan for your creation that will be revealed in accordance with that plan.

We thank and praise you for the loving grace and mercy that sent your Son to the cross to redeem your fallen creation; we recognize that in your power you could have destroyed the old creation and produced a new creation with great ease. We thank you for your faithfulness to your creation and your promises to that creation which resulted in our liberation from sin through the shed blood of your Son.

We are eternally grateful for the gift of adoption into your family by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and rejoice in your unconditional love and faithfulness to us as your children in Christ Jesus. We know we have failed to live up to your divine standard and thank you for the privilege of restoration through the simple acknowledgement and confession of sin to you.

We rejoice in the baptism of the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit now and forever and pray that we may use our bodies in a way that is pleasing to you and honors the great gift we have been given by your grace and mercy. We praise and thank you for the intercessory prayers of the Holy Spirit on our behalf who pleads for us in harmony with your own will with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

We wish to acknowledge with deepest gratitude that you are working all things together for good in our lives and are thankful you are conforming each of us to the image of your son, Jesus Christ. By your grace we seek to live lives that please you and bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask for your guidance and blessing that we might grow in our faith and faithfully serve you all of our lives.

We are truly thankful for the many blessings you bring into our lives and acknowledge that without you we are nothing. May our lives be a sweet smelling savor to you as we seek to serve and honor you in the power of God, the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus name we pray, amen.

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Illustration, “Stars” copyright Adele Bower

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 22, 2017

Will the Earth End Tomorrow?

So Far We’re Still Here and Nothing’s Happened

Think of this as a progress report. The Lord’s national focus is, and has always been, on Israel. It is the nation of Israel the Lord has promised to protect and preserve and it seems reasonable to me to think of the Feasts of the Lord as they relate to Israel. As I write this I notice the time in Jerusalem is 8:20 PM  which means the Sabbath has already started so the Feast of Tabernacles, 2017, has passed into history.

The church is still on the earth so I believe it’s safe to presume the church was not to be raptured on the Feast of Trumpets, 2017. Now the remaining question is will the earth end tomorrow, September 23, 2017? Although NASA has confirmed that no planet named Nibiru even exists there are others that claim it does and that it’s on a collision course with earth which will take place on September 23rd and bring about the end of the world.

I am convinced the earth will not end tomorrow based solely on the testimony of scripture! As I’ve mentioned before the Bible predicts a number of events which must take place before the end of the world.

I’m personally of the opinion that we’re talking about an absolute minimum of around 1,012 years of time before the end comes with several momentous events having taken place including the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Advent, and the Millennium in that order.

Monday will be September 25, 2017; if the Lord is willing I’m planning on publishing a prayer on behalf of all Christians everywhere.

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 14, 2017

Seven Days Left?

Adele Bower ©

Has the Final Countdown for the Church’s Big Event Already Started?

First of all let me establish one important fact; I’m convinced the next thing for the church is the Rapture which could take place at any time! What I’m not convinced of is it taking place on September 21, 2017.

There is a great deal of speculation floating around on the web concerning September, 21st and 23rd of 2017. It focuses on some wording in Revelation 12, the alignment of the stars and planets and the possibility of this next Feast of Trumpets signaling the calling home of the church and the end of the Church Age on September 21, 2017.

On August 22, 2017 I wrote on this subject in some detail in my essay, Big Changes for September?. I concluded it with a Timeline for Unfulfilled Prophecy which I saw no need to revise based on current speculation. While I join with those who long for the Lord’s return for his church I have difficulty reconciling the timing of the Rapture with the various signs cited by those promoting September 21st and 23rd as significant dates for prophetic fulfillment.

The only thing that would make me happier than the Lord’s return for his church on the 21st would be his return on the 14th of September. While I know any of that is possible I will add that I am mailing in my quarterly tax payment for September.

I concluded that essay by saying we didn’t have long to wait to see what the Lord may have planned for The Feast of Trumpets, September 21, 2017; now we have even less time left, seven days and counting. Should the Lord tarry I’ll plan on sending out a prayer of praise and rejoicing to the Lord for all of God’s children on September 25th.

Update 9-17-2017

Now we have this which I noticed on Fox News yesterday:

Biblical prophecy claims the world will end on Sept. 23, Christian numerologists claim

The article concludes with the following quote:

“According to the Express, author Jonathan Sarfati wrote that the same planetary coincidence previously happened four times in the last millennium.

“As usual with any astrology (or Christian adaptations of it), one cherry-picks the stars that fit the desired conclusion,” Sarfati wrote, according to the Express. “There is nothing to suggest that 23 September is a momentous date for biblical prophecy, and Christians need to be careful about being drawn into such sensationalist claims.”

As I have written before I am confident the Bible tells us the earth has at least 1,007 years to go before “the end.” Although I am not familiar with the works of author Jonathan Sarfati I do agree with his conclusions in this matter.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 8, 2017

Everything has Changed

What Happened?

On August 7th we considered the contrast between the Lord’s statement in Matthew 6:14-15 where it is written:

“14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

And Romans 8:1-4 where it is written:

“8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

We determined that everything had changed by the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the first statement our forgiveness was conditional (law), in the second statement our forgiveness is absolute (grace). I would like to examine in more detail just what happened.

There was a Change on April 3, AD 33 Which Affects Everyone!

Easter Sunday is the day Christians observe the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The preceding week had seen the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, His death and burial as the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.

At His crucifixion an amazing thing happened at Herod’s Temple, the heavy curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place had been torn from top to bottom which was clearly a miracle from God. This symbolized the separation between God and man caused by Adam’s disobedience had been removed by Christ’s death on the cross; sin was no longer a barrier between God and man.

If Sin is no longer a Barrier then why is it still such an Issue?

Do you think it would be safe to say the entire world has a problem with sin? I suspect that each of us could start with ourselves and see a deep problem with sins of all shapes forms and sizes almost everywhere we looked.

My wife refers to the local news as the “local police report” as it seems to feature all of the crime and carnage of the day. The old saying, “if it bleeds it leads” seems to characterize the priorities of the media and with improved communications it can even bleed in Europe or elsewhere and lead in the USA.

All of us would agree, at least to some extent, that sin is harmful; the problem is the popular definitions of what is sin vary all over the place. If you look up a dictionary definition of sin there would likely be some reference to God or theology. Sin, as defined by the individual, is seen as a problem within that person’s perception of reality and can be very subjective.

Transgressions against society are more likely to be labeled as “against the law” or illegal rather than sin or sinful. They are more easily identified because some law had been written by legislators in a specific cultural environment declaring certain acts to be a violation of the law in that environment. It is illegal to drive 75 in a 20 mph school zone during school hours; while that would be a clear violation of the law it would probably not be labeled a sin.

Now Back to the Change

Our Lord was explaining an important point about the ministry of God, the Holy Spirit, to His disciples when He told them in John 16:5-8,

“5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

The Advocate, a reference to God the Holy Spirit, would minister to Jesus’ followers in a new and significantly different way after Pentecost; He would be in the disciples and not just with them as the Lord explains in John 14:17.

“17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

The later is a reference to Pentecost, May 25, AD 33, when the Holy Spirit indwelt Christians for the first time. The Holy Spirit would also have a general ministry to the world concerning sin, righteousness, judgment and the restraint of sin.

In verse 9 our Lord identifies the world’s sin and tells His disciples; “9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” John 16:9

Just think about that for a moment, the Creator of the universe is telling us that the world’s sin is rejection of Jesus Christ. Is there any shortage of evil acts being perpetrated against many; are there no more murders, rapes, or pillaging to be found in the world? I think we all know the answer to that question, there is no shortage whatsoever of evil, hurtful acts taking place all over the world and if anything they seem to be on the increase.

Why then would the Lord tell us the world’s sin is rejection of Christ, is there an answer?

Paid in Full!

In John 19:28-30 it is written:

“28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

At that point the penalty for all sins past present and future was paid in full, the debt was paid, and the redemption was complete. The work the Lord had come to do at the First Advent was completed and He was finished, our Kinsman/Redeemer had begun the restoration that would be completed at the Second Advent.

Sin, in all of its forms, was no longer the barrier between God and man; the only remaining issue was reception of Christ as Savior. That is why Christ could say the sin of the world was failure to receive Him as Savior.

Just Like Adam

When Adam was in the Garden of Eden there was only one sin he could commit and that was failure to obey the one commandment he had been given regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Today the world shares a similar situation, there is only one sin that was not fully paid for at the cross, only one sin that remains as a barrier between God and man and that is rejection of Christ as Savior. That is why Jesus could say, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.”

Does that mean all the atrocities we hear of today are all forgiven? Yes, that’s exactly what that means; there is no sin or misdeed that you have ever heard about from any news source that has not been forgiven by the shed blood of Christ. None of those are an exception to the rule, none of them will be charged against the perpetrator, Christ died for them too!

So Now What?

Since forgiveness of mankind’s sin is total and complete with only one exception, and the Bible assures us it is, then what should be emphasized in the church’s message to the world? May I suggest, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 1, 2017

A Remarkable Week

Harvey

The Houston, Texas area has undergone a challenging experience known as Harvey, a category 4 hurricane that has caused massive flooding to many parts of the metropolitan area. The resultant flooding is causing unprecedented problems including the evacuation of many homes and businesses; fortunately the immediate Houston area was spared the worst of the hurricane force winds but wound up on the “dirty side” of the storm which produced the massive flooding. It appears Harvey will establish a new benchmark for flooding in the Houston area which may or may not stand.

Recovery will take a long time as the damage is so extensive; whether this is months or years I don’t know but it will leave an indelible mark on the history of this city. Although hurricanes are a part of life on the gulf coast it is always tough when it happens to you. As a native Houstonian I can remember sheltering from hurricanes from my childhood and as an adult remember the tension of the storm and the hard work involved in the cleanup after the storm had passed.

This time our family had a mixed experience; part of our family in the far southwest had to evacuate their home because of flooding and have no idea what they’ll find when they are able to return to inspect the damage. Our daughter and her husband have taken in the displaced part of the family as they live nearby in an area that did not flood. My wife and I have a location that has remained flood-free ever since we moved in almost 42 years ago.

Recovery

Recovery efforts began immediately all over the area and are well underway at this time. Sadly most of the bayous are cresting at unprecedented levels and some have not even started to recede; it has been estimated some may not be restored to normal levels for weeks. The power at our house has been out since Tuesday morning but after Hurricane Ike and being in the dark for two weeks I invested in a standby generator which automatically kicks in when power is out and provides electricity for the entire house. It has now been in continuous operation since Tuesday morning and is powering the computer as I type this. Internet service was restored earlier this morning which completed all necessary components to send this out. I’ll send it on it’s way before the internet goes out again.

The sun is shining and the sky is blue and filled with puffy white clouds; you’d never think we had just gone through a record breaking hurricane.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 22, 2017

Big Changes for September?

What, if Anything, is about to Happen?

A search of the internet for information on any of several variations of September 23, 2017 will produce many results relating to prophecy and the end times. What is going on that has drawn so much attention? The short answer seems to be a perceived special alignment of the sun, moon, stars and planets and a growing concern over the times in which we live.

There seems to be an abundance of discord and strife all over the world; the Bible has foretold that in the end times things would get worse. Paul’s warnings in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Romans 1:18-32 are being played out in life all around us.

Whether or not these are the times referenced by Paul the descriptions seem to be a good fit with what is being observed today. It is becoming ever more difficult to simply watch network television as subject matter, both nationally and locally, tends toward the disgusting and distasteful almost without exception.

There are also other signs that have been foretold that seem to be proliferating all around us; the question that comes up is September 23rd one of those signs?

What is Being Considered for September 23rd?

Revelation 12

Much of the information circulating on the internet involves astrology regarding the stars, constellations, planets, sun and moon and their alignment on the 23rd. I respectfully disagree with their conclusions.

The Bible condemns astrology. In several places astrology is described as false and unreliable. I see it as very unlikely that Revelation 12 has an astrological basis that involves the stars and the planets. Speculation includes the date of the Rapture; the date the Tribulation begins and the date of the Second Advent which ends the Tribulation. I will not honor that speculation by repeating those dates here.

The traditional interpretation of Revelation 12 sees the reference to the sun, moon and stars as symbolism based on Biblical references to Genesis 37:9-11. I’m inclined to agree with that interpretation.

The Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah

In addition to the Revelation 12 component there is the Jewish Feast component. It so happens that the Jewish civil new year observance, Rosh Hashanah, starts on September 20th at sundown; this will signal the beginning of the Jewish year, 5778. This is often referred to as “The Feast of Trumpets” and is one of the last three Jewish Fall Feasts awaiting fulfillment. It is the first day of the 10 “Days of Awe” which conclude at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Is this a Feast of the Church or a Feast of Israel? Pentecost had a direct application to the Church as that was the day the Holy Spirit indwelt believers for the first time and the church came into existence.

Now the question is will this Feast of Trumpets be the time the church is taken out of the world by the Rapture, something else related to Israel or simply another Feast Day? The Bible does not specify therefore speculation is running wild as to whether or not the Church will be raptured at this particular Feast of Trumpets and I don’t know.

The Rapture

One thing I feel confident about is no prophecy remains that must be fulfilled before the Church can be called home. This means the rapture could happen at any time. I have previously prepared a timeline which I still believe to be the best information I have been able to find. It includes some speculation that is based on Scripture and I show it below.

Nothing that I have seen recently compels me to change any of this timeline. I’m of the opinion that October will arrive on schedule and without any life changing events; we certainly don’t have long to wait to find out what the Lord may or may not have planned for the 2017 Feast of Trumpets. (Click on the timeline to enlarge.)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 14, 2017

Earthquakes and Two Solar Eclipses – a Divine Warning?

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars.” Luke 21:25a

Total Solar Eclipse – American Astronomical Society Photo

Solar Eclipse Number One

It seems inevitable excitement will continue to grow about the upcoming solar eclipse. The title, America’s Solar Eclipse, is rather provocative, don’t you think? Why is it just America’s solar eclipse; the answer is very simple, only the United States will fully experience this particular celestial event; the first one in 38 years to impact the United States.

On August 21st the earth’s required alignment with the sun and the moon will begin over the Pacific Ocean, cross diagonally over the United States, reach a maximum near Hopkinsville, Kentucky (which is about 149 miles by car from New Madrid, MO), and then move out of alignment over the Atlantic Ocean. The United States is the only nation that will experience this event.

Track of 2017 Solar Eclipse, Courtesy of NASA

Courtesy of NASA

The celestial mechanics that surround the eclipse are well understood; in 1855 a book by Asa Smith, “Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy” showed diagrams of this phenomenon. Although solar eclipses can and do occur all over the world this particular one is exclusive to the United States.

Solar Eclipse Number Two

The United States will share in a North American solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 which will pass over Mexico, enter the United States over Texas and exit over a small portion of Canada.  This solar eclipse will also originate over the Pacific Ocean and terminate over the Atlantic Ocean.

 Track of 2024 Solar Eclipse, Courtesy of Google and NASA

The two total eclipse tracks intersect in the vicinity of the New Madrid Seismic Zone; the largest recorded major earthquake in that zone was in 1811-1812 when a series of earthquakes of varying magnitude followed a major quake of 7.5–7.9 on December 16, 1811.

The New Madrid Seismic Zone

“The NMSZ appears to be about 30 years overdue for a magnitude 6.3 quake because the last quake of this size occurred 100 hundred years ago at Charleston, Missouri, on Oct. 31, 1895 (it was a magnitude 6.7). A magnitude 6.3 quake near Lepanto, Arkansas, on Jan. 5, 1843, was the next prior earthquake of this magnitude. About 75 percent of the estimated recurrence time for a magnitude 7.6 earthquake has elapsed since the last quake of this size occurred in 1812.” Missouri Department of Natural Resources” Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Recorded history tells us of another earthquake of unknown magnitude in that area on December 25, 1699. More information can be found on Wikipedia here: New Madrid Seismic Zone History

On May 1, 2016 there was a minor M 3.5 earthquake near the town of La Center, Kentucky; the largest of 11 earthquakes that have taken place recently in the vicinity of the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

Because of the nature of the rock structure in this vicinity the zone is considered to be far more dangerous. The devastation that could be caused would be much more widespread than earthquakes in California.

“Due to the harder, colder, drier and less fractured nature of the rocks in the earth’s crust in the central United States, earthquakes in this region shake and damage an area approximately 20 times larger than earthquakes in California and most other active seismic areas.” Missouri Department of Natural Resources. For more information I refer you to the New Madrid Seismic Zone

New Madrid Seismic Zone, Courtesy of Wikipedia

While the science is well understood is there any other aspect of this event worthy of consideration? There are many who see prophetic implications in the timing and location of this eclipse and the one coming just under 7 years later in 2024. It has been pointed out by some that the sun and moon have been considered as signs from God and there is a Biblical basis for that thought. In Genesis 1:14 it is written:

“14 Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.”

In the Hebrew, the words for signs and seasons definitely have a theological significance which is different from the traditional four seasons of the year. It is reasonable from the testimony of the Bible to believe there could be more involved here than celestial mechanics. I’m mindful of Romans 1:18-20 where it is written:

“18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

The question comes to mind; does this event have anything to do with the end times and end time prophecy? Compelling arguments can be made that it does; time will tell and we don’t have long to wait.

 “9 And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 10 Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.” Luke 21:9-11

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 7, 2017

Forgiveness

Law versus Grace

As one reads the New Testament it is sometimes easy to forget the major change that was taking place during the First Advent of our Lord. God’s plan for dealing with mankind through Israel was being temporarily replaced by a new plan that had been concealed from the Old Testament Prophets, a mystery plan that was yet to be revealed called the church age, the age of grace. This plan was to be revealed by the Apostles in the power of God, the Holy Spirit and began at Pentecost AD 33.

In Acts 2 verses 1-2 it is written:

“2 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.”

Here we see the fulfillment of the promise given to the disciples in John 14:15-17 where it is written:

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Later in John 16:7 the Lord tells the disciples:

 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

On Pentecost, May 25, AD 33, this promise was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, indwelt human beings for the first time. The world was now populated by two distinctly different classes of people; those who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, Christians, and those who were not.

The Church Age, the age of grace had begun and the world would never again be the same; Christians had become a temple of God, the Holy Spirit!

A reasonable question at this point might be to ask: “What does this have to do with forgiveness?” That would be a fair question and I’ll attempt to address that now.

The Mosaic Law and the Age of Israel

Israel had been given a period of 490 years to accomplish the objectives set out by God but was set aside on the date of the Lord’s “Triumphal” entry into Jerusalem on March 30, AD 33, the week he was crucified. The four Gospels are actually describing the last days of the age of Israel and the Mosaic Law while the Church Age begins in Acts 2.

All this was prophesied by the Prophet Daniel who foretold the separation between the first 483 years, which are past, and the remaining 7 years which are still in the future. The gap between those two parts was a mystery called the Church Age, the age of grace which is where we are now.

Now let us pursue the earlier question; “What does this have to do with forgiveness?” In Matthew 6:14-15 it is written:

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

That seems to be a rather straightforward statement, wouldn’t you think but then how does that verse fit in with Romans 8:1-4 where it is written:

“8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

In what sense are we under no condemnation when our failure to forgive others results in God not forgiving our sins? Did something happen between those two verses that changed the dynamics of forgiveness? I believe the answer to that question is yes; the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ had put everything in a new perspective.

As Christians we have been given, as a free gift, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; when the Father sees any Christian He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we have been covered by the shed blood of Christ at the moment we received Christ as Savior. Therefore there is now no condemnation for any Christian!

What about Failure to Forgive and other Sins?

As Christians we are all painfully aware of our many shortcomings and understand that we frequently fall short of the divine standard. God knew we would have that problem and provided a remedy, confession of sin. In 1 John 1:8-10 it is written:

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

No Christian of my acquaintance seems to believe they are free of sin; I’m certainly aware of my own sinfulness before the Lord which is why I confess my sins to God on a regular basis. Salvation does not guarantee perfect behavior but it does guarantee perfect reconciliation with God.

As Christians we exist on two planes, a positional plane and an experiential plane; positionally we have been perfected by Christ, experientially we are struggling with life and sometimes failing. This is where confession of sin comes in; that, tied with God’s faithfulness, provides restoration.

While the Holy Spirit indwells us forever, the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives can be quenched by unconfessed sin; this power can be restored by our confession of sin.

Failure to forgive as we have been forgiven is sin and quenches the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives; our place in God’s family as His children is never compromised but our quality of life, our peace and joy is greatly compromised by our failure to confess our sins to God. Holding a grudge or failure to forgive, is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Failure to forgive someone is a sin for which Christ died on the cross; it is covered by the blood of Christ.

Take care to follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:4-9 where it is written:

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 17, 2017

You and Your Life as a Christian

A Strong Foundation for your Life

Has your life met your expectations, do you feel your life has gone well or are there some concerns you would like to address? Last time I suggested that it was practical to develop a Christian life that really works; how is your Christian life working? Do you have the foundation and basic structure required to provide a practical framework for your success as a Christian?

As an online missionary for Global Media Outreach I respond to requests for help from Christians all over the world. There often seem to be areas of concern about the nature and quality of their lives that are common to many; concerns about their failure to resist sin, feelings of fear and doubt, concerns that they are wandering away from God and no longer feel the power and joy of His presence in their lives, some even questioning if they’re saved at all.

All of these symptoms are evidence of serious spiritual malnutrition; these people are starved for spiritual food, the word of God.

It might be well to ask ourselves in the privacy of our own minds how are we faring spiritually; what kind of a foundation have we built for our lives? How do we measure up to the Biblical standard set in Galatians 5:22-25?

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

What percentage of your waking hours could you honestly say your life is characterized by these qualities? This is completely between you and the Lord, of course, and no one else need be told. I’m sure we would all like to say these qualities characterize our lives 100% of the time but how true would that be for you?

Peter Addresses a Vitally Important Point

In 2 Peter 1:1-11 the Apostle is concerned with the quality of life of the Christian.

“1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

A rich welcome; that has a nice sound to it doesn’t it.

The Big Problem in Living the Christian Life

As you read this passage from 2 Peter you should notice the prominence of one word, knowledge; grace and peace as well as a godly life comes to us through our knowledge of him and the practical daily application of that knowledge to our lives.

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge

everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge

make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge

Knowledge of Bible doctrine, and the faithful application of this knowledge to one’s daily life experiences is the secret to a Spirit led life filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. There are no substitutes, there are no alternatives that will work!

A Vitally Important Distinction!

As Christian men and women we exist on two levels, our eternal spiritual level and our mortal earthly level. Peter addresses this distinction in verse one where he writes, “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours”

We have been given the gift of faith which has resulted in our gift of salvation; in Ephesians 2:8-9 it is written:

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This gift of salvation is an unconditional gift and will never be taken away from us; we have been justified and forgiven by the shed blood and holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and that will never change. Spiritually we have been blessed beyond measure as is pointed out in Ephesians 2:6-7:

“6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

The mortal lives we now live on this earth are an entirely different matter; although the Lord might have called each of us home at the point of our salvation; He has chosen instead to leave us on the earth with a mission to perform. While we share certain responsibilities such as soldiers of the cross, ambassadors for Christ, Royal Priests, we each have our own special ministries given to us by our Lord and must find and pursue these ministries as enabled by our Lord.

Our Solid Foundation of Bible Knowledge

Unfortunately a solid foundation of Bible knowledge on which we can base our lives does not come automatically; it is something we must diligently and systematically seek out and work to acquire! This is why Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15:

“15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Would you be an effective workman for the Lord? If your answer to that question is yes then there is no substitute for studying, learning and faithfully applying Bible doctrine to your life experience every day!

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

Are you confident in your knowledge of that truth, do you have an unshakeable faith that God is indeed working everything together for your good; do you faithfully apply that confident knowledge to your life every day in every situation?

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