Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Most of us have lived our lives serenely unaware of the great cosmic war raging unabated just this side of the threshold of "the door in heaven" (Rev. 4:1). Some like to speak of it as the "great controversy between good and evil," but it is far more than that: it's a battle between two great personalities--Christ and Satan. And more is involved than even this little planet's destiny; ultimately, according to the book of Job, the fate of the universe itself has been involved. Our little planet has become the battleground arena on which these cosmic issues are to be decided.
Little children whose diet is only milk can rest content that "Jesus has won the victory! Relax! Let Him handle the problems!" And indeed, on His cross He won the decisive victory over Satan and his evil hosts. "Rejoice, it's all been done! Smile! The war's over!"
But wait a moment. What does the unfallen universe (that must be rendered secure for all eternity), what do they see as they watch their version of the evening news on the equivalent of TV that they have? (Don't kid yourself--they've got better communication than we have, and yes, they ARE interested!). Do they see the fulfillment of, "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth"? Do they see that "He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder"? And "burneth the chariot in the fire"? (Psalm 46:9). Yes, they have seen the flaming wrecks of Humvees in the Middle East; but anyone (human or celestial) with open eyes can see that Christ is not yet SEEN to be triumphant on planet earth, however triumphant He is in biblical pages. Too much suffering, too many dying unjustly, too much triumph of sin; not yet has the "earth" been "lightened with His glory," that is, the glory of the fourth angel who "comes down from heaven having great power" (Rev. 18:1-4).
A child can't comprehend the burdens of her father who must provide for the family against great odds; she just rests in the arms of her daddy. But the church can't "rest" there as a "saved" infant forever; she must "grow up unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). The theme of Ephesians is love (agape), which is beyond childhood; we have to learn something. It's our cross. Agape leads to "the marriage of the Lamb." It's time for our thinking to become mature.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 5, 2004.Copyright © 2011 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.
Most of us have lived our lives serenely unaware of the great cosmic war raging unabated just this side of the threshold of "the door in heaven" (Rev. 4:1). Some like to speak of it as the "great controversy between good and evil," but it is far more than that: it's a battle between two great personalities--Christ and Satan. And more is involved than even this little planet's destiny; ultimately, according to the book of Job, the fate of the universe itself has been involved. Our little planet has become the battleground arena on which these cosmic issues are to be decided.
Little children whose diet is only milk can rest content that "Jesus has won the victory! Relax! Let Him handle the problems!" And indeed, on His cross He won the decisive victory over Satan and his evil hosts. "Rejoice, it's all been done! Smile! The war's over!"
But wait a moment. What does the unfallen universe (that must be rendered secure for all eternity), what do they see as they watch their version of the evening news on the equivalent of TV that they have? (Don't kid yourself--they've got better communication than we have, and yes, they ARE interested!). Do they see the fulfillment of, "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth"? Do they see that "He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder"? And "burneth the chariot in the fire"? (Psalm 46:9). Yes, they have seen the flaming wrecks of Humvees in the Middle East; but anyone (human or celestial) with open eyes can see that Christ is not yet SEEN to be triumphant on planet earth, however triumphant He is in biblical pages. Too much suffering, too many dying unjustly, too much triumph of sin; not yet has the "earth" been "lightened with His glory," that is, the glory of the fourth angel who "comes down from heaven having great power" (Rev. 18:1-4).
A child can't comprehend the burdens of her father who must provide for the family against great odds; she just rests in the arms of her daddy. But the church can't "rest" there as a "saved" infant forever; she must "grow up unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). The theme of Ephesians is love (agape), which is beyond childhood; we have to learn something. It's our cross. Agape leads to "the marriage of the Lamb." It's time for our thinking to become mature.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 5, 2004.Copyright © 2011 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.
