By Bill Ellis
SCOTT DEPOT, WEST VIRGINIA (ANS) — William Barclay was the great expositor of the Bible, known throughout the world. In Matthew 24:1-31, he writes and edits one of the Biblical passages about the second coming of Christ. When on the Mount of Olives with Jesus, His disciples asked Him about the end of the age and the signs of His coming again.
Read that passage carefully and see if anything resembles the day in which we live. In verses six-eight, the scholar of Scotland translates, “You will hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not disturbed; for these things must happen; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes. These things are the beginning of the agonies.”
Read through verse 31 and you may see some connection with the times in which we live. In the area of the earth we have commonly called “The Holy Land” there appears to be everything taking place except that which is holy and good.
The airport, in which I have landed and departed, at Tel Aviv, Israel, has been shut down in recent times. Rockets raining down on Israel and they fire back with even greater force. Bodies are being crippled and lives are being lost.
It is not uncommon to read or hear of Christians whose lives are being destroyed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Things are happening every day that have not happened “from the beginning of the world until now.”
Who is responsible for all this turmoil, trouble and terror? Barclay, commenting on these 31 verses, states: “. . . we have the composite vision of the future which Matthew collects for us; . . .”
Barclay reminds us that “The Jews divided all time into two ages – this present age, and the age to come.” Where are the leaders of the free world in a time like we now experience?
Where are the leaders of the United States? Are they on vacation, having forgotten the world in which they live, chasing the dreams of frivolity and being disengaged from the responsibilities that rightfully rest upon them?
We do not presently live in an easy age. It is filled with exploding trouble in every part of the world.
President Thomas Jefferson wrote on November 4, 1820, to Jared Sparks, “I hold the precepts of Jesus as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent and sublime which have ever been preached to man .. . .”
The words of men seem to be failing throughout the world. It is the time that we begin to read and understand the words of God Himself. Failing to do so, we forfeit our hope of peace.
God is good and He is real! He is there for you if you will just humble yourself and call upon His name. I hope that each of you that read this finds the joy and peace that my Lord Jesus has for you just as I have found them. If you don’t know Jesus and would like to, the bible says; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9 Only believe and you will be saved. Say a simple prayer something like this:
Jesus, please forgive me for my sin. I know I haven’t done everything that I should with in my life and I regret it. I know that you died for me and that you have a plan for my life. Please teach me your ways and help me to live my life for you, free from the fears of this world and the next. I want to be ready for eternity with you. Amen
God Bless you! If you have prayed this prayer, the Bible says, “ Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cr 5:17)
If you’ve prayed this prayer for the first time or are renewing your commitment to the Lord, please let us know so that we can pray for you as you start your new life with Jesus.