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In the late 1960’s a Rock band by the name of Chicago had a hit song containing this line, “Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care about time?”

For people in many countries in the world, today’s date, December 31, marks the end of a year. Midnight at the end of this day is recognized as the beginning of the new year, 2016. There will be various traditional gatherings where people like to “bring in the New Year together.” Here in the U.S. the first day of the year is a national holiday and many businesses and institutions will be closed. So I guess people to really care somewhat about time.

Robert Lamm, the author of the song by Chicago seemed to be asking a deeper question. Listen to these lines:

“People runnin’ everywhere
Don’t know where to go
Don’t know where I am
Can’t see past the next step
Don’t have time to think past the last mile
Have no time to look around
Just run around, run around and think why …..”

Times and seasons are really important to us. Maybe the actual date on the calendar isn’t as important as our need to stop and reflect on the passing of time, what we have done and intend to do with the time that has been given unto us. A Biblical Psalm that is attributed to the great prophet Moses brings this request to God:

He says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12).

Those who love and worship their Father and Creator God have the potential of receiving valuable wisdom from Him concerning the time they have been given on this earth. They need not run everywhere, not knowing where to go, or where they are. They can, to some degree actually see past the next step, for their steps are directed by the Lord. They can look back and see His Hand upon their lives. And because they know a glorious future in Him awaits them, they can fully live in the present.

For over two thousand years now, Christians have been looking for a great event in the history of the world. This event has to do with the culmination of all that God has been planning and bringing forth from the beginning of time. It has to do with the full, final and complete revelation of Jesus Christ to all of humanity. We have searched the prophecies of the Bible with great enthusiasm to determine just when He will appear, and what will actually transpire at that time. The many divergent interpretations of these prophecies from the most devout and dedicated scholars from various times and backgrounds can be confusing. Lately I have come to the understanding that God Himself has hidden some of the details from us for some good reason, which we will eventually learn.

At the same time, I believe that He plans to make more of these details known to this generation. We must have open hearts and minds to hear from Him, and be diligent as were the wise Orientals who followed His star to Bethlehem. Certainly we can become too preoccupied with “the signs of the times,” or the “end times.” But Jesus Himself complained to the people of His day for being unaware of the significance of they day they were in. They should have observed the signs pointing to His arrival and of His Kingdom breaking forth upon the scene.

Where is our country heading? What is God doing among His people? Are we following Him or are we hoping He will endorse the plans we have made? Is the Church of Jesus Christ becoming too inwardly focused? Do we have a vision for His greater purpose which can give more meaning to our everyday challenges and activities? Or is it all about me? My needs. My happiness?

Some of the most powerful words ever spoken will lead us all to the true happiness that God desires for every one of us.

Luke 9:23-25:

“And he (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

In our day we are seeing an intense and deliberate attack on the very Word of God that can make us aware of the times in which we live. Those who hold His Word in their hearts will be able to discern between all the confusing voices and to detect His Voice above them all. They will know how to prepare themselves for the immediate future as well as for eternity. Unlike the “blind leading the blind,” they see a bright and glorious path set before them.

Proverbs 4:14-18:

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

But the path of the just is as the shining light , that Shines more and more unto the perfect day.”

Impending doom is a reality for those who walk in darkness, and reject the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But there is always hope that the fire that He has lit within our hearts will continue to grow and glow out into the darkness of this fallen world. Let us pray with Paul the apostle that the eyes of our understanding will be opened to a greater vision of Him and His purpose for His Church. (Ephesians 1:16-22). This will no doubt inspire us to see beyond ourselves and to participate in His great love for all.

Lord, help us to accurately discern the signs of these times. Give us a greater zeal in our hearts for Your Heart, Your desire for Your people and all of humanity. Help us to truly know what time it is in your redemptive calendar, and to respond accordingly.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Two thousand years ago the world was very different than it is today. And yet, the heart conditions of that time can still be found in many these days. Jesus of Nazareth exposed these heart conditions by demonstrating to the world what a perfectly pure heart looks like. Not only that, but He presented a challenge to all of us. He insisted that we can embrace that same purity for our own hearts and lives!

Notice that I used the word “embrace.” This is not about an achievement. It is about devotion. Not just devotion to a cause or principle, but to a person. The true disciples of Jesus who continued with Him did so because they were drawn to His remarkable goodness and love. They wanted what He had. They were willing to let go of their former goals and aspirations in favor of His agenda. By following Him they were impacted by His uniqueness. They were being changed simply by their association with Him!

Hundreds of years before, God rescued the descendants of Jacob from slavery in Egypt and established a covenant with them. They were to observe His moral and civil laws and participate in a number of rituals that both honored Him and atoned for their imperfect observance of His laws. Some kept His laws to the letter, but not in sincerity. Others failed miserably but were forgiven and continued to trust in Him.

In the fullness of time, Jesus came to fulfill all that God had planned in calling Abraham, establishing the nation of Israel, and the righteousness that the law could only foreshadow. The laws of any society attempt to protect the citizens from one another. This new society, the Kingdom of God, would have a higher standard, a higher law, one that deals with the root problems of every community. The human heart, from which all conflict arises, must be transformed by the power of the King!

When Jesus presented this impossible and unrealistic standard, one would have expected a wholesale rejection of it. Many of course, did reject it in the end. Even so, all knew that He was right, as we all do today. If they would only have been more patient, they would have eventually understood the beauty of His plan. He did not come to destroy our hope for peace with God and contentment in this life. He came to bring in the Kingdom of God. That meant sharing His righteousness and holiness with us, and at the same time taking our guilt and sin upon Himself at the Cross.

We today must not also misunderstand Him. With a clearer understanding we will not be so inclined as some to water down His teachings to be less radical. He knows our weakness, but also how to empower us. It is for us to embrace Him, His teachings, His perfection, His holiness, His greatness. As we trust in Him, He will give the grace to accomplish the impossible!

Diluted Christianity is so revolting. The half-hearted Christian is a sad person indeed. Trust me, I have been there! The abundant life that Christ promised can be experienced, but only if we make the conscious decision to patiently trust in Him and His work in our lives. Total surrender to Him might seem at first frightening, but oh what a sweet surrender it is! It is to abandon fear, failure, compromise, cowardice and folly.

Again, it is not about an achievement. It is about a commitment. It is an answer to a call. The highest power in this universe is calling us unto Himself. Everything, including our sin that stood between us and Him has been dealt with on the Cross. Once we accept this we can know a freedom which we never knew existed, and a sense of nobility and integrity that only identification with Him can bring. With that freedom we can demonstrate to this world what this heavenly society truly looks like. We can live in the Kingdom of heaven now, and become that city set on a hill which cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14-16).

His is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken nor destroyed.(Hebrews 12:28). It is advancing at this very moment. We are called to join in this forward movement that cannot fail! Will we settle for a comfortable religion that we have designed to make us feel good about ourselves, or will we answer to this glorious call from God? His is a long-term strategy. It will not be finalized tomorrow. But every moment, every day has its own struggles and its own victories.

Every time we choose God’s ways over the ways of the world, a victory is won. Every time we seek to please Him, rather than ourselves, and risk displeasing the majority, we experience more of the Christ life. We find fellowship with Him in His sufferings, as well as in His joy! Faith is knowing Who Jesus truly is and who we are in Him. Our pleasure is His pleasure! We are happier when we patiently love and forgive one another, when we seek for the good of others over our own, for His glory.

The people who answer to this call are known by various names. They are the Church, which in the original New Testament Greek, means “the called out.” (1 Peter 2:9) They are the brothers and sisters of Christ (Romans 8:29). They are members of His Body, joined together in the Spirit to carry out His purpose in the earth. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:10-11, 4:12, 5:30, 1 Corinthians 12:27).

The metaphor of the Church as His body indicates a closeness and connectedness, as does the picture of it as His family. Another portrays His people as an army, crashing down the gates of hell! (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 6:10-13, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). This army must stand under its Commander and Chief, Jesus Christ, and fight this spiritual battle as a unit. As we look at the great diversity among Christians today, we acknowledge again the seeming impossibility of this ideal. Those things that are impossible with men are still possible with God! (Mark 10:27). Not only that, but it is impossible for Him to fail! (1 Corinthians 13:8).

He is calling forth from our hearts a willingness, an optimism, a desire to answer to this higher calling. What will be our response? Perhaps the greatest and most effective Christian who ever lived, Paul the apostle, has penned the most inspiring words along these lines:

Phil 3:12-14:

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” NASU

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“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:10-14:)

In ancient times (when I was in elementary school), we were taught a few words in various languages. Usually the first words in another language had to do with greetings. First we would learn to say “hello,” in Spanish, German, etc., and then “good-bye.” In some languages, the same word was used for both hello and good-bye. This was the case in the Hebrew language. People would greet one another with the same word, “Shalom” as when parting.

Years later I learned that Shalom meant “peace,” and realized that originally it was more than a greeting, but actually a blessing. “Shalom” means a bit more than “have a good day.” I guess you could say it means more like “have a good life!” Peace in Hebrew thought had to do with an overall state of well-being.

In America we think of peace-time verses war-time. We also think in terms of tranquility of mind. The angels here were promising the coming of the King of the Kingdom of God. He was one who would introduce to the world the same righteousness, peace and joy that has resided with God in heaven from all eternity. This peace would first come in the revelation of His life as a man among us.

Since Adam and Eve fell into sin, war and conflict has persisted in the earth. The people of God in the First Century knew of His promise to bring peace, but most failed to see the Divine Plan. The effects of the Fall must first be reversed before any lasting peace can come. A forced peace through a military victory would only be temporary. Jesus would engage in a different kind of warfare, against evil itself. He would triumph over evil with good.

Peace on earth begins with peace with God. The very forces of evil in this earth unknowingly cooperated with God in His plan when they plotted Christ’s execution. Through His death the world was reconciled to God!. Satan lost his ancient and primary accusation against the virtue and love of God. No longer could he suggest that God was holding back from us to protect His own interests, for the Father would offer His only Son in payment for all of our failures. He could give no more. He gave of Himself. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 2 Corinthians 5:19, John 3:16).

Jesus not only took our sins upon Himself at the Cross. By His resurrection His very righteousness was transferred to our account – if we believe in and place our trust in Him.

Romans 4:24-5:2:

“But for us also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

In the early chapters of the book of Acts, we begin to see the Kingdom of God come more fully into view. After witnessing His ascension to the heavenly throne, His disciples waited in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit, according to His command. His peace was among them to the extent that they came to a deep level of unity, during which the Holy Spirit filled them and transformed them all into flaming witnesses of His power and glory! (Acts 2:1-4)

Since that time there have been many ups and downs in the life of His Church. As Jesus taught in many parables, the Kingdom of God would sometimes advance in great measure, in other times the progress would be slow and gradual. There was much resistance, both from fallen humanity and the devil who in the beginning deceived the human race. When believers don the armor provided for them by God, they stand strong and united together in love. When they forget His weapons, they become divided and weak. At the time Jesus left His mission in the hands of imperfect humans, he must have known how often we would drop the ball. Thank God the final victory belongs to Him alone!

His peace is always with us, but we are also to become peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9). As we progress from childhood to spiritual adulthood, we grow in wisdom and discernment. We learn to exercise the power we possess in Christ to prevail against the very gates of hell!

There is power and authority in the peace of God.

Colossians 3:12-16:

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” NASB

In the presence of the King, His holy, redeemed people become living proof that He has already begun His reign in the earth. Right living, peaceful and joyful fellowship are signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit within them and among them. (Romans 14:17) They fully understand this work in progress. They know that it is not all about them, for God has this whole world in mind. Creation itself is groaning in labor pains to see that which God plans to do in and through His people, His Church, the Body of Christ. (Romans 8:18-22).

The Lordship of Christ is tangibly manifested in the patience and compassion His children have for one another and the world. These and other fruits of the Spirit bear witness to the King of the Kingdom of God, Who already rules in the hearts of His own. Satan’s kingdom is doomed! Sometimes it is difficult to see that the reign of Christ has already begun. That is where faith and spiritual vision comes in. Consider the first Christian martyr, young Stephen, who in his last minutes of life saw the heaven opened and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56). Paul prayed for the church that we too would have the eyes of our understanding opened to see Christ so enthroned. (Ephesians 1:15-23).

A church equipped with such a view of Christ can rise above the struggles of everyday life. From this position of victory in Him we can go forward in His eternal plan and see His rule extended over all the earth. He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25). Even now there is not one square inch of this universe that He does not already possess, but here we are talking about the culmination of all that has been planned by God from the beginning. There will be genuine peace on this earth, and it is coming through the Prince of Peace!

Since Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, the world has never been the same. Great changes took place immediately, but even greater things came as Jesus began manifesting the power of the Kingdom of God to save, heal, and deliver humanity from sin and death. The world began changing as people began to come into contact with their King. His Kingdom did not come as many were expecting. It is still coming in a manner many do not expect. What a great mystery! And yet how real His presence and the presence of His Kingdom truly is!

Anyone who truly knows and believes in Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords can see and experience Kingdom Life now, and their anticipation for the future of our world as stated by the angels in Luke 2:14 empowers them even more. While this future may at times seem very far away, they can know and possess a certainty that their participation in His purpose is not in vain.

Micah 4:3:
And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war.
NASB

Heavenly Father,

In our immaturity we, your children have made so little progress in demonstrating your peace to this earth. Give us the faith to trust in you more, and to follow your every lead in this great cause. This is your universe, and it is your Kingdom, your power, and your glory that we desire to see revealed. Thank you for allowing us a small part in your glorious and loving plan.

In the Name of our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.