| (Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) |
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| What do you expect to happen in this new year of 2012? It certainly hasn’t started very well. Millions still suffer from an ongoing drought in various parts of the world. Many more suffer from the aftermath of floods over the past two or three years. Others still suffer dreadfully from the massive earthquakes that have inflicted the planet in recent years.. Countries such as Haiti where more than half the population still suffer and regardless of the weather continue to live in ramshackle shelters made of whatever scrap of wood or piece of corrugated iron the people can find. Others are “fortunate” – if that is the word, to eke out their lives under canvas shelters brought in by one or other of the aid agencies. Rebuilding of the infrastructure, roads, etc. has still barely begun! As for getting an income that is not a luxury available to many! The same is true in Japan where the population was badly hit by the earthquake that created the tsunami which caused such devastation and loss of life. Many bodies of those who died have still not been found. Populations in other countries continue to live life under oppressive governments, governments such as China which, for all its advances, nevertheless demands an enormous effort from the average citizen. Such efforts have made it possible for the nation to effectively wage an economic war against the western nations. In other nations we witness violent wars in which many thousands have died. And, still there in the background is the threat of nuclear war. It is apparent that Iran is on the edge of producing a viable nuclear weapon. Britain and the United States have both said that direct action will be taken should this become likely. However, Israel might take it first and risk a violent reaction from the rest of the Arab world. Closer to home we see Europe at odds with itself with regard to the currency. Depending on how that all affects the eventual political structure for the area. It is becoming evident that a closer political union of fewer nations will be preferred to the ad hoc grouping that exists at the moment. This has already been aired but awaits those events yet to take place. The United Kingdom is not exempt from these political movements with elements of the Scots government currently trying to take Scotland out of the union with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A union which has, in its way, been quite successful. Division serves no one except those who pursue that direction and that will last only briefly! What’s the old saying? “United we stand, divided…” you know the rest! Why you ask do people do these things? There are various reasons, self-interest being one of the most important. Greed for power and/or money is another. Sometimes, although rare, it is a genuine, but mistaken, reason. The proverb says this: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” But who today takes any notice of sayings! Especially biblical ones! However, as we consider these things, one of the world’s biggest cruise ships capsized off the Italian coast, taking some of its passengers to their deaths. Those people, as they ate breakfast at home before they set out for the port in Italy had no idea that this was to be their last day of life. Many, however, seeing the way things are in the world today are preparing for the strong possibility of a breakdown of society not only in other parts of the world, but in Britain. Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University, London, was quoted as saying “There is a mass psychology of insecurity at the moment, and I think that is worrying. Quietly, but inexorably, the problem of food security has begun to enter into the mass consciousness.” Economists are being quoted as they predict a “meltdown” of economy after economy around the world. It is reported how many today are now stocking up with emergency supplies of all kinds to enable them and their families to survive initial difficulties. You may have heard of the Doomsday Clock. The Independent for 12th January explained it. This was set up in 1947 by atomic scientists at the University of Chicago and originally the minute hand was placed at 7 minutes to midnight as the threat of world disaster from atomic energy was perceived to be at that time to increase, or even decrease. Since then, the minute hand has accordingly been moved backwards and forwards 20 times. The short article said that “the gauge was initially based on the risk posed by nuclear threats but was widened in 2007 when the Bulletin of the atomic scientists deemed climate change to be one of the greatest risks facing mankind.” The minute hand is now at 5 minutes to midnight having been moved forward by 1 minute due to the combined threat facing the world today. A threat which is very real! And a lot closer to us now than we might have realized. Climate change is a very real factor with drought and shortage of water already threatening many parts of the world and indeed could see the end of life on earth, this being eradicated directly through famine and in the resultant wars waged over the shrinking food supplies. Wars which undoubtedly would go nuclear with the subsequent catastrophic loss of life that they would bring. However, the one certain thing about life is death! And yet probably the one subject to which we give the least thought. A large percentage, probably in fact the vast majority of people, certainly the British, don’t really believe in God and certainly not in a life after death. There are people, probably multiple millions, who think that this life is all there is! Included among these millions are some highly intelligent and otherwise well-educated people. But they are at a loss to explain where life comes from! Or what it is! And how is it that people can think and deal with abstract concepts. We have previously mentioned the Russian scientist Oparin of some years back who theorized that life started in a pool of water which had within it a cocktail of chemicals. This pool he stated was struck by lightning and that was the spark of life and from this one lightning strike all life on earth came into being. Oparin and a whole army of otherwise intelligent people don’t even begin to attempt to answer the resultant questions. Questions such as by what physical law did the lightning operate and cause sentient life to result. And how did it appear? How did that minute bit of life survive and grow and by what laws or rules did it take up the myriad shapes, sizes, and variety of life forms that we have today. Did all animals, birds etc. come from this one chance occurrence? If so, then how and why did they all take up the forms and sizes that we see today. Oh! They evolved! Then why two eyes instead of one! And by what mechanism did all these life forms including man come into being. Faced with the realities evolution as a theory is a nonsense to be grasped by those who just will not accept the reality of God and the truth of creation. One of the most magnificent parts of the physical creation is the human brain. It is ultimate foolishness to believe it evolved. Another factor is the non-physical that is part of every human being. We call it the spirit. Where did it come from? What is it. The French philosopher Rene Descartes put it very well, he said “I think, therefore I am!” Spirit is that nonphysical element which enables us to know God, to understand who and what we are. It gives awareness. Without it we would be as the animals. It makes the difference. The apostle Paul met many of these same attitudes. Those who preach evolution and that there is no God are not original. These nonsense beliefs have been around for as long as man has been on Earth. They showed up in the Corinthian church. The apostle Paul battled the same attitudes and wrong beliefs that afflict us today. He referred to Christ’s resurrection which, he said, was witnessed by over 500 members of the church of God. They knew Christ, many would have seen him on the cross or stake, they knew he had died. Three days later here he was walking the lanes and walkways of Jerusalem as though nothing had happened! His resurrection was real, it happened! As Christ was resurrected so are we! Paul continues to say that if Christ was not resurrected then our faith is in vain. People believe the nonsense that pours forth from the vociferous evolutionists we are familiar with, an illogical nonsense that simply shows up the lack of wisdom and understanding of those who propound it. Man agonizes over the question as to the nature of the universe. He sends probes out into space. He blindly says that maybe we shall find the answers to the question of the universe as to how it came into being. How it evolved, not realizing it didn’t! Another question that tends to arise is the extent of the universe. In fact, it’s a question that can’t be asked! This is borne out when new and much more powerful telescopes are set up. The astronomers simply find more and more universe. They hope to see the other side of the universe! There isn’t one! If, in fact, there is an apparent limit at present to the number of planets, stars etc. we will simply find yet more space and still there is no limit. Otherwise, intelligent people can believe that intelligence generated spontaneously from a pool of muddy water struck by lightning, yet the sheer logic and veracity of the bible accounts which get right down to the grass roots passes them by. Is it because they cannot accept there is a being with an intelligence and ability far greater than theirs? A lot of damage has been done by the theory of evolution and its priests and it is going to take our Heavenly Father to allow this world and especially Britain and the United States to go through an unprecedented time of trouble that will finally focus the human attention. A time of trouble that is already becoming apparent. But beyond it is a new world. A world now subject to the Father and to Jesus Christ. A new world, a planet now restored and upon which a project of re-education will be undertaken for the world in general. For those who either never understood the truth, or had from untoward influences, rejected it unknowingly. A new world, a kingdom which will stand forever. There will be no end to it as we read in the book of Daniel chapter 2. |
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