A Christian View of 2022 - #12
Paul’s perspective sets the standard by which we weigh the world’s values and views.
The Apostle comes to Athens the seat of philosophy, intellectualism and human reasoning.
Let’s look through his lens and learn …
Acts 17: 24-27, 31 AMP
“The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Here are three headlines that rise out of the news that comes from the Bible.
Equality
His creation of the human family is not on a graduated scale of significance and superiority. Regardless of race, region or religion, we have this commonality.
We have a shared story - created and loved by God - of one blood, on one earth, for one purpose - to love Him and each other.
There is no place for prejudice in the economy of God.
The land is not ours over which to war. Territorial terrorism has wounded our world as we try to conquer and control that which is only ours to manage until another generation assumes that responsibility.
Accessibility.
The distance between God and the human family is man-made.
“He’s not far from each of us.” How far can we remove ourselves from His heart?
Look at Vladimir Putin - the megalomaniac from Moscow- intoxicated by his own thirst for power, without conscience, restraint or remorse!
To what depths can the soul sink? How thick a darkness can settle over the human heart?
There is a demonization that can capture the human mind until our thinking becomes twisted, torturous and tyrannical.
Yet, the distance, immeasurable, uncrossable has been bridged and the darkness has been penetrated by the light of the grace and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. . The Cross has a redemptive reach from “the highest star and reaches to the lowest Hell.”
Accountability
“He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world …” it’s not a comfortable conversation.
The principle of accountability is ingrained in laws of the the galaxy. When violated, the consequences are inherent, inevitable and inescapable.
The laws of gravity and aerodynamics prove the point.
The creation of humanity has built within that genesis act the necessity of accountability of humanity to God our Creator.
If Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler - mass murderers and war criminals are not judged by their Creator then there is no moral order in the universe.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
But there is a higher court - it is indeed the Supreme Court of heaven and earth.
There is no appeal, no mistrial, no miscarriage of justice.
The day has been set - we do not know when.
The Judge has been appointed and named -
Jesus Christ who has been raised from the dead.
He will not judge as He was judged with false witnesses and trumped up charges.
No, He will judge righteously.
The good news is that the Judge on that day is our Saviour today.
That judgement day can be avoided by trusting in God’s Son who took your place and has already paid the penalty for your sins.
The Christian view of 2022 has not gone rogue and run away either from God’s love and grace nor from the God of righteousness and judgement.
Randy B. Leavitt
Pastor