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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, March
30, 2023
This photo of a welder at a local metal fabrication shop captures hard, conscientious work.
"But if someone doesn’t provide for their own family, and especially for a member of their household, they have denied the faith. They are worse than those who have no faith" (1 Timothy 5:8).
"How
We Ought To
Be"
Message
summary:
Today,
let us heed
these solemn
words from the
Holy
Scriptures. An
event far
greater than
the worst type
of nuclear
accident or
terrorist
attack is
forthcoming.
Our call as
followers of
Christ remains
to live holy
and godly
lives, to look
forward to
that glorious
Day, and to do
our part in
speeding its
coming.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But
the day of the
Lord will come
like a thief.
The heavens
will disappear
with a roar;
the elements
will be
destroyed by
fire, and the
earth and
everything in
it will be
laid bare.
Since
everything
will be
destroyed in
this way, what
kind of people
ought you to
be? You ought
to live holy
and godly
lives as you
look forward
to the day of
God and speed
its coming" (2
Peter 3:10-12).
A
commentator
made this
interesting
analysis
concerning our
current state,
although in
reality it's
an ancient
perspective.
He pointed out
that
essentially
the divide in
our country
(and true
everywhere) is
between those
who think they
are God and
those who know
they are not
God. For those
of us who know
we are not
God, but
sinful human
beings in need
of redemption,
the daily text
asks a vital
question. What
kind of people
ought we to
be?
Let
me begin this
message with
an
illustration
both timely
and local: (The
exposition
is below the
indented
portion)
On
March 28,
1979, the area
where we now
live,
south-central
Pennsylvania,
was in the
midst of a
gripping fear
for several
days, weeks,
even months.
An accident
had occurred
at the Three
Mile Island
Nuclear Power
Plant which is
only 10 miles
from where we
now live. At
that time we
were just
beginning our
ministry in
the
north-central
part of
Pennsylvania,
but I remember
the gripping
fear and
variety of
speculations
being made as
to what might
happen. If I
recall
correctly one
activist
speculated
that the earth
would melt all
the way
through to
China!My
older brother,
Mike, called
from San
Francisco
expressing
concern.
Living some
140 miles away
(geodesic
distance) from
the accident
site I don't
recall having
any urgent
fear at that
time, but we
were listening
intently to
any news
regarding the
potential
disaster, and
just how far
reaching
effects from
the fallout
might be.
However, since moving to this area 22 years ago we discovered for those who lived in close proximity to the plant it was a very stressful time. Pregnant women and children were urged to leave the area and many did. There was concern about the release of radiation or even a catastrophic meltdown. I know a man who was one of the technicians working at the plant at the very time of the accident who was impounded on the island during the entire event. Thankfully the situation was contained and here we are forty-four years later.*
However, since moving to this area 22 years ago we discovered for those who lived in close proximity to the plant it was a very stressful time. Pregnant women and children were urged to leave the area and many did. There was concern about the release of radiation or even a catastrophic meltdown. I know a man who was one of the technicians working at the plant at the very time of the accident who was impounded on the island during the entire event. Thankfully the situation was contained and here we are forty-four years later.*
But
I heard a
story that
reveals how
fear can lead
people to
respond in
irrational
ways. John,
a
friend of
ours, was in
third grade
attending
school in this
area at the
time of the
accident. He
recalls his
teacher
instructing
the children
to practice
getting under
their desk.
Now, as John
and I talked
we weren't
sure how this
was supposed
to protect the
children from
radiation
poisoning, but
since "duck
and cover"
safety
exercises were
repeatedly
practiced with
students of
all ages
during the
early years of
the Cold War
perhaps it
made the
teacher feel
that she was
better serving
and protecting
her students.
Futile as such
an act might
be, perhaps it
had a
psychological
effect on
their thoughts
of improving
the risk
factor for
radiation
fallout!Our daily text speaks of a most certain future catastrophic event that will be experienced worldwide. "The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." Now certainly there are various interpretations regarding what this future event will entail but it absolutely speaks of a level of cataclysmic destruction barely imaginable, and no form of "duck and cover" will protect those who have postponed or neglected their spiritual preparation.
My purpose in this encouragement is not to speculate as to what this event might be or just how it fits into an eschatological (endtimes) view. There are scores of books and various views written about the end times. The Apostle Peter gives us no further details, but goes on to ask a question, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?" Notice, he doesn't advise as to how we are to protect our property and treasures we've stored on earth, or even our lives. But rather it's directed at who we are to be, not what we have accomplished or accumulated.
This same warning and counsel is directed to God's people today. Whether living in view of our imminent death or uncertainties concerning world situations, financial upheaval, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, increasing persecution or the most certain future destruction of the current order. What kind of people ought we to be?
The
text answers
that question.
We ought to be
people who
live holy
and godly
lives as we
look toward
the day of
God's future
dealings with
His creation
and speed its
coming. Though
God is
longsuffering
and may choose
to delay the
fulfillment of
His promise so
that those
from every
tribe and
nation may
hear the
gospel, the
prayer Jesus
taught His
disciples and
followers in
Matthew 5, "Thy
Kingdom come"
has been
echoed
billions of
times by
faithful
followers
petitioning
the Lord's
return.
And how do we speed the Lord's coming? It is hastened by our obedience in fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:19,20). A few verses earlier Peter wrote that Jesus is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So the sooner we spread the gospel message to others the sooner Christ will return.
Today, let us heed these solemn words from the Holy Scriptures. An event far greater than the worst type of nuclear accident or terrorist attack is forthcoming. As followers of Christ whatever happens we are to live holy and godly lives, as we look forward to that glorious Day, and do our part in speeding His coming by spreading His gospel.
And how do we speed the Lord's coming? It is hastened by our obedience in fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:19,20). A few verses earlier Peter wrote that Jesus is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So the sooner we spread the gospel message to others the sooner Christ will return.
Today, let us heed these solemn words from the Holy Scriptures. An event far greater than the worst type of nuclear accident or terrorist attack is forthcoming. As followers of Christ whatever happens we are to live holy and godly lives, as we look forward to that glorious Day, and do our part in speeding His coming by spreading His gospel.
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
You desire
that we live
holy and godly
lives as we
eagerly await
the
reappearing of
Your Son, our
Lord and
Savior Jesus
Christ. No
event, future
acquisition,
or achievement
here on earth
compares with
the
anticipation
we feel for
that glorious
day. We want
to speed
Christ's
coming by
sharing the
gospel message
to those near
and far. Help
us not to be
timid or
apathetic, but
keep us
enthused and
eager to share
the message of
salvation so
that our
family,
neighbors,
co-workers and
acquaintances
will also be
prepared for
the glorious
day of
Christ's
return when we
will receive
our eternal
promotion to
enter into the
glories of
heaven. In the
name of Jesus
we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Our
God
Reigns"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Kathryn Scott
"Take
My Life And
Let It
Be"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Maranatha
Music
*
The entire
Three Mile
Island power
plant is now
decommissioned.
The plant had
two units. The
unit damaged
in the
accident in
1979 was
permanently
shut down at
that time. The
other unit
operated and
produced
electricity
until it was
closed in
2019.
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Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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