Remember When?
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:16-17, NASU)
If one is not watchful the day to day cares of this world in our times will take the love, joy and peace out of what is good and wholesome in our walk. A lot of grayness has eliminated the “white is white” and the “black is black” reality that Scripture clearly gives us to stand on. Indeed, if it were not for the Word of God giving us a clear, unwavering view of what life is to be, and how to live it, we would be flailing under the weight of the massive turbulence about us.
There is just too much craziness out there for anyone to know what is truth, unless they continually keep their eyes, mind and purpose focused on He Who is Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember what life was back when:
1. There was no need to be concerned if the boy was a boy and the girl a girl. You were one or the other, not something ridiculously conjured up by those denying the Creator of all.
2. Remember when a married couple (man and woman) was expecting a child, and all were grateful for new life coming? You believed the family life would surround the child with godliness, and the child’s growth would be surrounded by proper care and nurture.
3. Remember the times when you knew your neighbors, and the kids played without concern outside even when it got dark?
1. There was no need to be concerned if the boy was a boy and the girl a girl. You were one or the other, not something ridiculously conjured up by those denying the Creator of all.
2. Remember when a married couple (man and woman) was expecting a child, and all were grateful for new life coming? You believed the family life would surround the child with godliness, and the child’s growth would be surrounded by proper care and nurture.
3. Remember the times when you knew your neighbors, and the kids played without concern outside even when it got dark?
4. Recall those years when church life was an extension of family life – clear sermon messages, good potluck dinners and weekly times of being together truly built your spiritual life?
5. Wasn’t it great when celebrations of parades honored those who stood against evil, and didn’t permit those who flaunted it?
6. Weren’t there times in days gone by when we trusted what newsmen reported, when personal opinions and slanted persuasions didn’t exploit our information, but rather we had confidence in believing what was spoken and shown?
7. Didn’t we respect governmental leaders, educational teachers, and business owners to do the right thing, and lead the right way, for the benefit of those they had been given authority over and guidance for, and not for their own power and glory?
The list can go on and on, if we allow ourselves to relish those good memories shared by many.
Of course it too wasn’t a perfect world, but at least standards were rightly set and abiding in the ways of the Lord brought stability and certain hope for the future.
But as the Word says, we can have confidence and assurance of faith that He is in control, and fear need not over take us.
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:7-17, NASU)
The Lord will bring restoration of all things, even though at times His plans and purposes may seem hidden at times, as the darkness increases around us. Our trust in Him must not waver nor shall we grow weary in doing good. Standing strong on His Word will shine light in the midst of darkness.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #351 - in the year of our Lord 09.06.18 – “Remember When?”, Thursday, 10:45 am
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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA