Now that the expectation failed (from the viewpoint of the Harold Camping acolytes) – or, rather, that which most of the rest of the world, Christian and not, did not expect to happen, did not happen, what are we to conclude? Are we just to await the next doomsday?

I was not surprised when Mr. Camping’s embarrassment and dismay in the face of a news camera left him almost speechless the day after the non-event. Nor was I surprised when he announced that judgment did indeed take place in the spiritual sense that day. A final sentence was issued against mankind but its execution awaits October 21st….he now says.

I am reminded that with all the mocking and derision that has surrounded this attempt to name the day and hour of the Son of Man’s return, the tempo and volume of the naysayers will increase with rapidity as the labor pains increase on earth (Matthew 24:7-8; 2 Peter 3:3f).

We ought, as Christians, to be as conscious of our duty at the beginning of the day as we are at its end. Not knowing the day nor the hour, it would seem the most prudent response to make the most of the time that is available – i.e., right now. It would seem the most compassionate response of a believer who was aware the Lord could come at any hour to be daily concerned with our prescribed duties as ambassadors of our King. After all, He is much more concerned than you or I for the salvation of your neighbor, bunkmate, roommate, Battle Buddy, et al. He demonstrated that at Calvary.

Chances are that we’ll never incur more than mocking for our faithfulness, if that much. The very least we can do to avoid bringing unnecessary scorn on the gospel as we tell of it is to be prepared before hand - not to take a beating or mocking, but be prepared to give a reason for our expectation that one day judgment will occur, that God will bring it on.

One discussion I try to have with skeptics when we speak of these things concerns the matter of ultimate justice. Does the skeptic not long –as the rest of us – for justice that is swayed neither by what is irrelevant to the matter (of justice) nor by what is opposed to justice (prejudice, favoritism, intimidation)? In other words, biblical justice.

Then we can point them to the flood story of Genesis 6 and the execution of God’s wrath against sin another time when He struck His Son, Jesus Christ, at Calvary. We can point out the numerous prophecies our Lord fulfilled en route to the cross and the strength of the testimony surrounding His resurrection as well. That, of course, takes us to why Jesus would endure this if He was indeed the Son of God. That takes us to John 3:16.

We prepare for our driver’s test, PFT’s, semester exams, rifle range, job placement – all of which is finite and self-centered. How much more ought we to prepare ourselves for the rescue of those who are perishing (Jude 22-23).  To the Book!           Michael 

A humble villager in eastern Poland received a Bible from a lay preacher who visited his small hamlet. He read it, was converted and passed the Bible on to others and through that one Bible 200 more in the village became Christians. When the lay preacher, who was named Michael Billister, revisited the town in the summer of 1940, the group gathered to worship and to listen to his preaching. Billister suggested that instead of giving the customary testimonies, they all recite verses of Scripture.

Thereupon a man arose and said, "Perhaps we have misunderstood, Sir; did you mean verses or chapters?" "Do you mean to say that there are persons here who can recite chapters of the Bible?", came the response of the preacher. And that was precisely the case. Those villagers had memorized not only chapters but whole books of the Bible. Thirteen knew Matthew and Luke and half of Genesis. One parishoner had committed all of the Psalms to memory and together the 200 people knew virtually the entire Bible by memory. Passed around from family to family and brought to the gathering on Sundays, the old Book had become so worn with use that its pages were barely legible. One book so prized among a church and it was so prized that they would copy it and commit it to memory.

Cf.1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."

Deuteronomy 32:47 "...for it is not an idle word for you;indeed, it is your life."

It is important that we recognize what our own attitude toward the Bible is and how that stacks up
against what the Scriptures have to say for themselves. If, for instance, we regard the 10 Commandments
as the 10 Suggestions, we will hardly be of the frame of mind to submit ourselves to them.

If we believe that the Bible was composed by fallible men (and they were) and therefore requires an asterisk (*) beside moral imperatives (Thous shalt... and Thou shalt not...), we will view with suspicion
anything that doesn't pander to our human pride or which makes demands of our flesh.

On the other hand, if we believe God was as able to provide His Word in propositional form (inscripturated) as easily as He could in personal form (incarnated, John 1:1 - 18) through the birth of Jesus, then we are being inconsistent to believe Jesus was without sin and yet believe that the Bible necessarily included error in the original documents.

Ideas do have consequences. It matters what we think, especially about that one text that claims for itself Divine communication from God to mankind.

Michael

Have you heard that in the past six months alone the number of people fraudulently
presenting themselves as Navy SEALs has spiked almost 200%?! Why did they choose
this particular group? After all, John Wayne was never a SEAL and they've only recently
made the news..particularly the front pages internationally after getting rid of some sea
pirates holding a ship's captain hostage as well as locating and removing Public Enemy
No. 1, OBL, from his comfortable hideout in Pakistan.

As I was reading the story of this outstanding young man, Michael Monsoor, I wondered
if there was not some instruction here for those of us who make a claim to be Christians.

A broad criticism is laid today at the Church (i.e., Christians) for being "just like everybody
else - looking out for number one". Why would those outside the Church want to try to wedge
inside into communities of people that are no different than those on the outside - where
rank, socioeconomic status, education, connections, etc...all play a part in how well one is
received and treated? Would you?!

Michael Monsoor wanted to be part of an elite group that lived out its creed. To him, one's
creed as a Navy SEAL was not a part-time involvement: it was his character, permanently
etched by a willingness to endure the rigors of belonging to an elite unit not satisfied with
mediocrity as they carried out the mission.

I want to keep Michael Monsoor's example in front of me. I'm tired of being mediocre.

"For it is not an idle word for you: indeed, it is your very life."
Moses, Deutermony 32:47