PENTECOST BAPTIST CHURCH INTERNATIONAL, PORTSMOUTH.

Sunday 3 June 2012

Christ is the answer. Who is the question? Judges 17:1-13

Christ is the answer. Who is the question? Judges 17:1-13
(If the answered is a person, Christ, then by simple deduction the question should be a person - a human being or many human beings if not all of them. In the later case many question one answer.) John 10:1-18
Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
The problem of evil in the world has been a traded commodity for a long time. The one that has been regularly accused is the silent one, who knows all things, who can do all things but principled to wait for the appointed time. Then he will do what he has purposed, that is, put a final end to evil in the world. Scriptures attest to this in many places.
Ecclesiastes 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Matthew 8:28  And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29  And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34.
There is an appointed time for God to destroy evil in the world. God himself set the time. Now that human beings have tended and leaned so much to the evil, we don’t know if any human being will survive the carnage. Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The visible aspect of evil in the world has a great lien on human beings.
Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Animals keep their estates fishes, birds, trees and other living things keep theirs as well. Even many natural disasters that befell the world have been triggered by humans’ unending scientific enquiries and discoveries. Each time science and technology solves one problem, it replaces it with at least three immediate ones and several others in the embryo. Think of any so called scientific breakthrough, reflect on its consequences. They are unimaginable.
We can all feel it that something is wrong with humanity. Can’t we? In fact it is a litotes, an understatement to say something is wrong with human beings. Without exaggerations, everything is wrong with human beings. Our films, our lifestyles, our values (What we cherish most individually and collectively), our dressing and fashion, our religion and belief system, our culture and sports, all bear witnesses that a lot is wrong with us. All of us. No wonder there is so much fear, ignorance, wickedness and confusion.
Luke 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The most sincere human being walks about like a question mark. Why is this? Why is that? Why me? Why won’t God?  Why will God?
Yes we are the questions. Christ is the answer. Are we ready for the answer?

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