Saturday 2 April 2016

I Wonder

I wonder
Psalm two reads,
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 
“Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” 
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 
Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 
“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
                                                                            Psalm 2.
Sometimes I wonder if those who don’t believe in God have read Psalm two. I especially wonder if extreme dictators like there is in North Korea while saying publicly they do not believe in God may have read Psalm two and believe it.
If they believed it then it would account for them standing against Christianity and God in general because it ultimately states the Messiah will reign over all the earth and they will be judged.
If as atheist say there is no God and Jesus was just a good man then there is nothing to fear from writings like Psalm two.
If on the other hand the Bible is true that the Messiah will one day return to earth and redeem His people and rule the earth then those who oppose God have a great deal to fear.
Not only that there is nothing they can do to stop Christ’s return.
Shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus the Sanhedrin, the ruling religious body of the Jews at the time were forced into a debate as to who Jesus was. It occurred after two of Christ’s disciples who had been told by them not to preach in His name were caught doing so again. The book of acts records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.   Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
              Acts 5:28-39.
I as a Christian truly believe those who oppose Jesus and Christianity are fighting against God.
The proof is Christianity has continued to grow despite at times severe persecution from both governments and private individuals.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
                                                                                                                               Napoleon Bonaparte,
Napoleon was right Jesus and his followers have won converts though a doctrine of love for God, one’s neighbour and even one’s enemy.
That being said there will be a time when Jesus returns to earth to judge the world and everyone in it.
Until then the God who created the heavens and the earth has given everyone a freewill to choose to believe in Him or not.
The choice until the return of Christ, as to where you will spend eternity and how God will judge you is in your hands. You can either accept or reject Him.
Jesus speaking of himself left us a choice when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                                   John 3:16-18
Please think about it.

No comments: