by W. L. HUGHEN
We live in a world of great, and constant uncertainty.. Never in our history have we been faced with so many fears. The incident of 9/11
yielded an overwhelming blow to our sense of security as a nation. The newspapers and TV Newscasts coldly remind us on a daily basis of all the death and destruction that appears across the globe. It is
crushing to take into account the large numbers of people who are
tortured and killed everywhere. Truly, "THIS IS THE LAND OF THE DYING, NOT THE LIVING'."
How shocking it is to hear of those who have been so brain-washed and deceived that they are willing to wrap themselves with explosives ,and detonate them when they are among a crowd of perfectly innocent people. They mistakenly think that their deed will cause the government to change its position according to their demands.
These dastardly deeds are nothing but murder in the first-degree. We have never known anything like this before. How do you cope with someone who is already prepared to die for his cause. With a normal sane person you can influence his behavior with
the threat of death., but not the "suicide bomber."
Since the bombing and killing and injuring of many people in London recently, Americans have wondered, "Can it happen here?" The resounding answer by every official and news commentator is,
"Yes, it really is a Clear and Present Danger.
We are frightened on every hand by the dismal and foreboding reports of danger from those who are experts in their field. Environ-mentalists tell us constantly that we are contaminating the waters and the atmosphere. We are told that this pollution is causing the earth to become warmer, and as a result the polar ice caps will melt.
This in turn will cause the oceans to rise high enough to completely
inundate the cities of the coast over the entire earth. Astrologers
.frequently warn us that one day soon an asteroid will crash the earth and plunge us into an ice-age.. They emphasize their claim with,"It is not a matter of IF but WHEN". Is not this a Clear and Present Danger?"
In every season of the year the earth is experiencing unusual natural disasters, such as we have never seen. Hundreds of thousands of human beings are losing their lives and their fortunes to such things as tsunamis, earthquakes,, floods, tornadoes. hurricanes, ,and volcanic eruptions.
Medical scientists often report that there now exists certain strains of
several incurable diseases that could wipe out the entire human race.
These diseases are so horrible that it is disgusting to look upon a
person who is afflicted.
Many officials are telling us that over one-half million people die in
America each year from tobacco, alcohol, and fire-arms. These deaths are 100% preventable. The lives of over 1,500 people in the USA are
snuffed out every day uselessly. Why on earth do intelligent human-
beings persist on doing those things which they know very well could end their life? There are thousands of signs and billboards every where that clearly warn us that this is a Clear and Present Danger..
why do we persist? Are all the warnings lies?
Amazingly, I am already beginning to hear talk about a third world war. There is speculation about a possible war with China, North Korea, and Iran. I even read about the possibility of a war between Israel and the Palestinians.
Those of us who have a listening ear leaning toward the voices who speak of the end of times, are learning that there exists right now more signs pointing to the end of the world as we know it than in any time in recorded history. Read the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:4-12 "Take heed that no one deceive you, for many will come in my name,saying,'I am the Christ' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, But the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.. All these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. and many will be offended, and will betray one another. Then many false prophets will rise .up and deceive many, and because
lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold. Dear reader can you see it?
We are told that more Christians have been
persecuted and killed in the past ten years than in all of the history of the world. Anyone in America can clearly tell that a war to destroy Christianity has already begun., There is abundant evidence than even now many Christians are being persecuted right here in our our beloved USA. It is a Clear and Present Danger we need to wake up to.
Peter echoes the warnings of Jesus when he states, "But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heaven's will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up..
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be in conduct and godliness?"2Peter 3:10,11
Now, what are we to do? With all these things being paraded before us daily where can we go? Is there peace and refuge to be found anywhere? YES! The answer is a resounding YES! The Bible is full of God's offer for peace, comfort and refuge as we face all these Clear and Present Dangers.. In the Gospel of John (14:1)Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled.. Believe in God, believe also in me." In chapter 16 verse 33 Jesus said, "These things have I spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, for I have over come the world."
Life will always have CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGERS. It is in God, and Him alone that we can find, peace, hope and comfort. It is available to all..
Blessed be the God and the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
. the Father of mercies and God
of all comfort.
Who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to
comfort those who are in trouble.
with the comfort with which
we ourselves are comforted by God.
2nd Corinthians 1:4,,5 |
