Zager and Evans: "In The Year 2525"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew01FGfOZdE

Being a true science fiction fan, I loved this song. Though I hoped God would show up long before 2525 A.D., I still loved this one-hit-wonder group's futuristic song from the year 1969. Listen to it here.

Nobody knows when Christ will return. Even so, each generation of Christians has hoped they would be the ones to see Acts 1:10 and 11 (Bible in Basic English) fulfilled in their lifetimes. "And while they (the disciples) were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, 'O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"

Before that, Christ told the disciples it was none of their business about future events which they didn't need to know. Acts 1:6 and 7 (BBE) reads, "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?' And he said to them, 'It is not for you to have knowledge of the time and the order of events which the Father has kept in his control.'"

So what do we do? Christ spoke a parable in Luke 19:12 and 13 (BBE) which should be our instruction. "So he said, 'A certain man of high birth went into a far-away country to get a kingdom for himself, and to come back. And he sent for ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds and said to them, "Do business with this till I come."'"

For those concerned about rewards, they're in good hands. Luke 14:13 and 14 (BBE) reads, "But when you give a feast, send for the poor and the blind and those who are broken in body: And you will have a blessing, because they will not be able to give you any payment, and you will get your reward when the upright come back from the dead."

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: "Wooden Ships"

This is a song about a post-nuclear-war world and what the survivors of it did. In few words and using dialogue, this group painted a picture of how people scrounged a living in that post-apocalyptic landscape. Listen to the song here.

The world isn't as fearful about a nuclear holocaust today but people are still worried. Even so, we Christians are blessed to know the future which God has in store for this planet.

We read the Lord's plan in 1 Corinthians 15:51 and 52 (Bible in Basic English). "See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed"

For us, it will be a wonderful time but not for sinners. Revelation 6:15-17 (BBE) shows us their panic on that day. "And the kings of the earth, and the rulers, and the chief captains, and the men of wealth, and the strong, and every servant and free man, took cover in the holes and the rocks of the mountains; And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Come down on us, covering us from the face of him who is seated on the high seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of their wrath is come, and who may keep his place?'"

We also know that Christ will return from what Acts 1:10 and 11 (BBE) promises. "And while they were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, 'O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"

Our Lord will also reward us for our faithfulness and punish the wicked, as 1 Peter 4:5 and 6 (BBE) says. "But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead. For this was the reason why the good news of Jesus was given even to the dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but might be living before God in the spirit."

If Christ hasn't arrived by Thursday, I hope to post about a soldier who fights for all countries.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: "Long Time Gone"

When this song was recorded, the Vietnam war raged and student protests against the draft were commonplace. Those years certainly felt like dark days to us who lived through them.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash recorded this as their commentary on the anti-war movement. Check it out here:

Every age had its dark days. All through the Old Testament, Israel ended up conquered and enslaved whenever they abandoned God. And as we read in Hebrews chapter eleven, faithful folks endured hard times with the hope of heaven in their hearts.

Long before Christ and the apostles, Abraham sought after the Lord. Hebrews 11:9 and 10 (Bible in Basic English) said of him, "By faith he was a wanderer in the land of the agreement, as in a strange land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had a part with him in the same heritage: For he was looking for the strong town, whose builder and maker is God."

Though it seems like Christ has been "long time gone," his return is a certainty. James 5:8 (BBE) reminds us to, "Be as calm in your waiting; let your hearts be strong: because the coming of the Lord is near."

Likewise, Paul trusted his readers and wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:4 and 5 (BBE), "And we have faith in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things about which we give you orders. And may your hearts be guided by the Lord into the love of God and quiet waiting for Christ."

Two angels also gave the disciples the good news that Christ would return someday. Acts 1:10 and 11 (BBE) tells the story of how it happened. "And while they were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, "O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

May our Lord come soon. If he hasn't arrived by Saturday, I hope to post about fickle political fashion.

One Year Closer

What a nasty year 2020 was for most of us. Unless you're rich and powerful, this year has been filled with anxiety and anger. We've had everything from COVID-19 to a fractious American election. So what's so good about the new year?

As the title of this post says, we're one year closer. And which great event are we closer to? We read this promise given to Christ's disciples in Acts 1:10 and 11 (Bible in Basic English). "And while they were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, 'O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"

Ever since then, Christians have expected Christ to return soon. As we read in 1 Peter 4:7 (BBE), "But the end of all things is near: so be serious in your behaviour and keep on the watch with prayer;"

Likewise, Paul expected Jesus to return any day. Philippians 4:5 (BBE) says, "Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near."

Some false teachers worried certain Christians, saying that Christ had come secretly for his people. But Paul set the record straight in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (BBE). "Now as to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our meeting with him, it is our desire, my brothers, That you may not be moved in mind or troubled by a spirit, or by a word, or by a letter as from us, with the suggestion that the day of the Lord is even now come; Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction, Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God".

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, recorded this saying from our Lord's lips. Revelation 22:7 (BBE) says, "See, I come quickly. A blessing on him who keeps the words of this book of the prophet."

Two-thousand years have passed without Christ coming in glory with the saints. Even so, we're one year closer. And as a Chinese proverb says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Let's keep putting one foot in front of the other until that awesome day arrives.

If Christ delays his return by Saturday, I hope to post about this hand-me-down world we live on

Hope for the Best but Plan for the Worst

In my post last Thursday, I mentioned being misled by people regarding the heavenly Father's character. They gave me the impression that I had to have great faith to get anything out of the Lord.

Since nobody taught me how to read the Bible, I fell for the lie that I shouldn't save for retirement as Christ would soon come. As a consequence of that error, I didn't save any of my wages in a retirement plan.

Christ's disciples also assumed he'd return quickly to make them leaders in his physical kingdom. They also appear to have misunderstood what the angels meant in Acts 1:10 and 11 (BBE). "And while they were looking up to heaven with great attention, two men came to them, in white clothing, And said, 'O men of Galilee, 'why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven'".'" But no time was given for that event to happen.

We also note that the "last days" only started in the first century. As Peter preached in Acts 2:16 and 17 (BBE), "But this is the thing which was said by the prophet Joel; 'And it will come about, in the last days, says God, that I will send out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will be prophets, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams:'" Nobody then knew how long it would take for the end of this age to arrive.

This is why I believe Paul wrote what he wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1 (BBE). "But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come."

It was actually kind of the Lord not to tell his disciples how long the last days would last. That's why he said in Matthew 25:13 (BBE), "Keep watch, then, because you are not certain of the day or of the hour."

So, how do we live with this tension between watching for Christ's return and planning for our futures? We must be ready for his coming but sock away retirement funds in the event that we retire before then.

I wrote about how I failed to plan ahead in my book, How I Was Razed. Had I known how to handle the seeming contradiction of Christ's soon coming verses him not coming in my lifetime, I'd have a much larger nest egg in the bank.

If Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about his reappearance.