What Is This World Coming To?

Believers in the Middle East are dying at the hands of Islamic State. Millions of refugees flee violence in Syria. Russia is girding up its loins for the war in the Middle East, which is inevitable as the king of the North involves himself in Syria, thus facing Western powers. Boko Haram terrorises Christians and others in Nigeria, bombing market places and bus stations and kidnapping children and adults randomly. What is this world coming to?

Riots break out in various communities in our own nation for various reasons. Those who promote alternative lifestyles have scored major legislative victories in the recent past.

County clerks are now required to issue marriage licenses to same gender couples, no matter what their religious convictions are, so that men can marry men and women can marry women. Those who speak against this sinful lifestyle or help others escape it, have become targets of violence and of legal action. What is the world coming to?

The internet and other media are saturated with immorality and violence. We Christadelphians must grapple with how to handle everchanging technological advances. We should stand up against some of these things as we see the day drawing near, see Psalm 101. Even now phone and computers have become suspect. What is the world coming to?

Because of pervasive wickedness in Noah’s day, God brought an end to the world that then was. In a similar way, God will not allow this world to continue forever in its sin infested condition. It must end. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2Peter 3:7, 10).

We Christadelphians are not called to enforce morality through coercion or through legislation. We are not called to use force to bring criminals to justice or even to protect ourselves and our interests. But we are called to be salt and light. We are called to reach out to individuals in the world around us, to preach the truth (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and share the love of Christ. We are called to be faithful fathers and mothers who raise faithful children. In so doing, we continue to build and prosper our way through, even in the midst of a world that is coming to an end. We do this because we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2Peter 3:13). And we do this because we want as many others as possible to be part of the coming kingdom of God on earth. There is the promise- thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory. So we are to stay firm to receive the wonderful approval of our heavenly Master who is so soon to appear in the world to pour everlasting relief and joy.

Pictured above: Bro Gaius at the back of Bro Dafydd Jenkins (Cardiff, UK) at the Nigerian Fraternal gathering at Port Harcourt, Nigeria

God’s Care and Compassion

The circumstance of Israel’s preservation in, and exodus from, the Land of Egypt, and the exhibition therein of God’s care and compassion, and of His might toward the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has provided us with the comfort and consolation of the assurance that the same mighty and loving Father has called us to Himself, and has promised to “show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him” (2 Chr. 16: 9).
W.H.Carter

Bro Gaius Egwu (Ohafia, Nigeria)