Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Almost everybody is expecting another thousand years of present life to go on, in the words of Peter, saying, "all things [shall] continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (see 2 Peter 3:4). But Peter says that they are willfully ignorant of a profound truth--the flood of Noah. God's patience with the antediluvian world was not infinite. He brought an end to that wicked, violent, sensuous, adulterous generation. Peter adds that the same heavens and earth are "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (vs. 7). And Jesus says that before His second coming, the world will again become as it was "in the days of Noah," yes jubilant in flaunting the solemn message that God sends in mercy (Matt. 24:37-39).
We don't know the day nor the hour of Christ's second coming when He will call the world to account. But even if one disregards what Peter says, common sense makes clear that if the world tries to go on for another millennium, it will choke itself to death in suicide. The Holy Spirit is steadily being withdrawn from the earth--there is constant deterioration of morals and decency. A millennium of life on a planet where the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn would be hell on earth. And it's not God who takes the initiative in withdrawing His Spirit; people drive Him away, reject Him, just as they murdered His Son over two millennia ago.
But in 2 Peter 3 the apostle goes on to give us wonderful Good News: (a) God is not willing that even one of us "perish"; (b) He gives the gift of "repentance"; (c) in the midst of wickedness we can live "in all holy conversation [lifestyle] and godliness"; (d) we can "be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless"; (e) His "longsuffering is salvation" for us; (f) we don't have to be "led away with the error of the wicked, [or] fall from [our] own stedfastness," but (f) we can "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Are you thankful for His "longsuffering" with you? If "yes," you have the key to happiness today, no matter how soon Christ does return.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: 25 March 1999.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
Almost everybody is expecting another thousand years of present life to go on, in the words of Peter, saying, "all things [shall] continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (see 2 Peter 3:4). But Peter says that they are willfully ignorant of a profound truth--the flood of Noah. God's patience with the antediluvian world was not infinite. He brought an end to that wicked, violent, sensuous, adulterous generation. Peter adds that the same heavens and earth are "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (vs. 7). And Jesus says that before His second coming, the world will again become as it was "in the days of Noah," yes jubilant in flaunting the solemn message that God sends in mercy (Matt. 24:37-39).
We don't know the day nor the hour of Christ's second coming when He will call the world to account. But even if one disregards what Peter says, common sense makes clear that if the world tries to go on for another millennium, it will choke itself to death in suicide. The Holy Spirit is steadily being withdrawn from the earth--there is constant deterioration of morals and decency. A millennium of life on a planet where the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn would be hell on earth. And it's not God who takes the initiative in withdrawing His Spirit; people drive Him away, reject Him, just as they murdered His Son over two millennia ago.
But in 2 Peter 3 the apostle goes on to give us wonderful Good News: (a) God is not willing that even one of us "perish"; (b) He gives the gift of "repentance"; (c) in the midst of wickedness we can live "in all holy conversation [lifestyle] and godliness"; (d) we can "be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless"; (e) His "longsuffering is salvation" for us; (f) we don't have to be "led away with the error of the wicked, [or] fall from [our] own stedfastness," but (f) we can "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Are you thankful for His "longsuffering" with you? If "yes," you have the key to happiness today, no matter how soon Christ does return.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: 25 March 1999.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
