Saturday, August 24, 2019

Pay Attention!


RIO DE JANEIRO - In the height of daytime on Monday, the sky suddenly blackened, and day became night in Sao Paulo. Sure, smog is bad in the Western Hemisphere's largest city, where traffic jams can stretch for dozens of miles. But not this bad. What was going on? Was the end near? "Apocalypse!" one person cried on Twitter. "The final judgment is coming!" another added.[1]

Apocalypse –no! The final judgment –no! –just another indicator of man’s stupidity. A disregard for the well-being of people in the selfish pursuit of wealth and power.

It is apparent that humans do not learn from past events. Are things any worse now than earlier times in history? It is difficult to imagine that people at the time of the flood were godless to a greater degree than many today. It is debatable that Sodom was more perverted and immoral than many societies currently. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said, “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”[2] his statement rings true in the realm of politics. Russia claims to be a communist country, that’s a farce, it is a totalitarian dictatorship. Putin is one of the riches men, if not the richest man, on earth. The USA boasts that it is the greatest democracy, not so! It is a republic in which money rules every aspect of life, and the government. Money from Lobbyists dictates most of what goes on in government. Trump promised to drain the swamp, that’s a laugh; he’s the biggest swamp rat, in a much bigger swamp. Trudeau is as much in love with money as he is himself, if that’s even possible. The love of wealth and power derived from wealth is as much a scourge today as it ever was. Not just in politics, but in every walk of life. Living in a free country is only possible if you pay for it. Nero was a horrible leader, but was he any worse than Trump, Putin, Xi Jinping, Trudeau, or Duterte?

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[3]
The religious leaders had the written Law and the Prophecies at their disposal. They were the guardians of Israel, it was their responsibility to lead Israel. Jesus rebuked them for not recognizing the signs of the times. Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah. His birthplace was announced in advance, his ministry was stated, and his death foretold. Were Israel’s leaders anymore steeped in tradition than church leaders today? Isn’t it hypocritical to criticize Pharisees of the first century for having their own set of rules, when every church has its own set of doctrines?

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them--it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.[4]
Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered them, and pointed out that people facing destruction by the flood, and those in Sodom, paid no attention to warnings. They ignored any sign; they were too engaged in “normal life” to be bothered by any distraction. That would be the same situation at the time of Jesus return in his kingdom, at the end of the Jewish age. Jesus warned about the coming judgment on Israel, he gave indicators as to when it would happen, but no date or time. Much of Jesus teaching included the necessity of being ready, and being prepared. Many religious leaders should be concerned right now, because according to their misinterpretation of Jesus’ teaching concerning Jerusalem –the silly stuff about a “rapture”, or “earthly reign”, the end might be right on their doorstep. Were Jewish leaders any more blinded by their erroneous doctrines than church leaders today?

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.[5]
Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.[6]
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.And he said to them, Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.[7]
It is abundantly clear that Jesus said, and meant, that within the lifetime of some of his audience he would return. Which, unless you think that God is capricious, Jesus did. The event of his return, in the time he said it would happen, shreds the various doctrines fabricated around the thousand year reign in Revelation. It’s time the religious world woke up to the fact, that you either believe what Jesus said, or you don’t. All the millennium theories are man-made and built on doubt. That is, doubt that God accomplished his purpose in Jesus. Churches have taken notions that suited them, and discarded truths, simply because they don’t fit their fancy. The Pharisees of Jesus time followed their own set of rules, the same way churches do, and have done for centuries.
So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'[8]
Do you think that the passage quoted by Jesus from Isaiah was any more of a rebuke to the Pharisees than to churches throughout time? Present day Christian religions need to reflect upon the words of Jesus.
Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.[9]
Nothing in scripture is directed at the present time, however, all principles apply. Is it possible that with all the advantages available in the present, that churches will be held less accountable than the cities Jesus named? If the words of Jesus are not believable now, they would not have been believable if you lived when Jesus was on earth. To believe in Jesus; we have more evidence, greater knowledge, greater freedom, less opposition, and more time, than people living in the first century. Jesus provided another principle –“…to whom much has been given, much will be required...[10]

The fanatics pushing their climate change agenda, charge humanity as guilty for causing the problems, (somehow, they themselves are exempt from guilt, and free to fly in gas-emitting jets to meetings condemning humanity). For forty years or more these climate zealots have demanded money to prevent change from continuing. In case you are wondering, I do believe that change is taking place. I don’t however, agree with the self-righteous disciples of pantheistic programs. I don’t believe man causes everything going wrong with the climate today. Has humanity been irresponsible in caring for the planet? –of course. The pseudo-science of anthropogenic climate change is nothing more than a façade covering greed. Climate scientists clamber for more and more funding –they are saving the planet. Rubbish! They have not improved or prevented anything. Were the people building the Tower of Babel any more arrogant and self-centered than the people claiming they can fix the world’s climate?

“More frequent and extreme heat” “Rising seas and increased coastal flooding” “Longer and more damaging wildfire seasons” “More destructive hurricanes” “Military bases at risk” “National landmarks at risk” “Costly and growing health impacts” “An increase in extreme weather events” “Heavier precipitation and flooding” “Destruction of marine ecosystems” “More severe droughts in some areas” “Widespread forest death in the Rocky Mountains” “Increased pressure on groundwater supplies” “Growing risks to our electricity supply” “Changing seasons” “Melting ice” “Disruptions to food supplies” “Plant and animal range shifts” “The potential for abrupt climate change”
We Need Your Support
to Make Change Happen

We can reduce global warming emissions and ensure communities have the resources they need to withstand the effects of climate change—but not without you. Your generous support helps develop science-based solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.[11] DONATE! DONATE! DONATE! …………….
The only thing left out of the list is Donald Trump’s heel spurs. The article by “The Union of Concerned Scientists” is a heart breaker. We are to put our trust in the same bunch of nitwits that have failed on every count for over forty years? There is no business that would ever seek an IPO with their dismal record, yet we are told to get on board. We are in sad shape, if the future of the world depends on failed science. Please excuse my cynicism, while I don’t believe any of the charlatans promoting snake oil as a solution to the world’s woes, I do believe that many things are changing. The changes taking place though, are beyond human control. You may as well be King Knut demanding the waves to stop, as trust in human ability to reverse the changes taking place. The only thing humans can control is their response to climate change. Instead of wasting trillions of dollars on trying to stop the world changing, the money should be to good use by making preparation for a different future.

For atheists, climate change could indicate that man cannot control the future. The display of nature’s power to do its own thing, could indicate to godless people that we are all subject to powers beyond ourselves. There should be no fear for evolutionists, since the present changes suggest that evolution is about to require adaptation for survival. If there is no God, and everything that exists is a result of happenstance and mistakes, this change should be welcomed. Why if evolution is about to move to a more advanced stage, would evolutionists not embrace the changes? People have rushed to support climate scientists, governments have done the same. It makes no sense to try regulate things beyond our control, but without faith in God, the next best thing is to turn to human knowledge.
Icarus and his father attempt to escape from Crete by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax. Icarus' father warns him first of complacency and then of hubris, asking that he fly neither too low nor too high, so the sea's dampness would not clog his wings nor the sun's heat melt them. Icarus ignored his father's instructions not to fly too close to the sun; when the wax in his wings melted he tumbled out of the sky and fell into the sea where he drowned.[12]
For the conceited “scientists” who believe they can control nature, the fable from Greek mythology is suitable.

Putting fancy human doctrines aside, believers need to accept the events taking place as reinforcing human life is frail and fleeting. The signs do not have to indicate the end of all things. They do suggest a message to be learned, is that life is not guaranteed. Anyone of us at any moment may step off this world into eternity. For that we must be prepared. The parables of Jesus taught that people should be ready and waiting for his return. We cannot go through life thinking that everything remains the same and will continue to be that way. That was the attitude before the flood. That was the attitude in building the Tower of Babel. That was the attitude before the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed. Look at today’s changes, and if you realize there is nothing you can do about them, and you feel insignicant, that’s a good thing. Turn your eye heavenward, and like Habakkuk be comforted, that “the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.[13]




[1] www.greenwichtime.com
[2] 1Ti 6:10 
[3] Mat 16:1-3
[4] Luke 17:26-30
[5] Luke 21:20 
[6] Mat 24:29-31, 34
[7] Mar 8:38, 9:1
[8] Mat 15:6-9
[9] Mat 11:20-24
[10] Luke 12:48 
[11] https://www.ucsusa.org
[12] Greek mythology
[13] Hab 2:20

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