Today I saw a video from Iran that talks about the coming of the Mahdi. For those who don't know what the Mahdi is, it is the Muslim Messiah. They claim that the Mahdi is coming and that with him Islam will conquer and rule the world. On the flip side, most Christians believe that their Messiah, Jesus Christ is also returning soon. So who's right? Or could they both be right? If you are a believer in the bible, you have to be able to see that the potential for both sides to be right is there.
So what's coming? We live in a very exciting time. It's plain to see that something is going on. The political unrest in the Middle East, people protesting in England, the fall of the Canadian Prime Minister and his party, the economy still not recovered, natural disasters happening on an almost weekly timeline, the issues with radiation in Japan, the rise in criminal activity and the fall in morality, the speed at which technology is advancing... something is going on.
At a dinner with some friends last night, we broached on many of these topics and another, the consistency with which our pastors at different churches are preaching very bold, very truthful messages. It seems that in the four congregations represented at the table, we could all agree that the days of preaching sugar coated, don't offend anyone messages are gone, and we are getting walloped with messages that convict and I am sure offend some. AND WE ARE HAPPY! I want to be in a service where the pastor says, "look, this is the way God is telling us we are too live and if you don't like it, there are consequences." We need this! For too long we have been told that God loves us, that He forgives us, that's He's our friend. And yes, this is true but you know what? He is also a jealous God, He is a judging God, and He can be a very angry, wrathful God. We need to have a fearful respect of God and I think too many churches are afraid that if they teach about all of the characteristics of God, people will get scared off... but do we really want a church full of believers that only love God because He is warm and fuzzy and will give us whatever we want? Just like children, we need a father who is consistent and will correct us when we do something wrong.
Some of what we are seeing in the world is God trying to get the attention of people who don't believe in Him... Some will turn to Him, and some will curse Him and turn away. Where do you fit in?
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14
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