| August
19, 2006
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We’re visiting our daughter, son-in-law
and granddaughter in Collingwood, Ontario this week. So
I’m sitting at their keyboard as I write this newsletter.
The weather’s been beautiful and we’re enjoying
our time with them.
As the nation of Israel faced their doom in Old Testament
times, the prophet Amos warned them of their fate. He laid
out their terrible future because of their departure from
the Lord and exhorted them: “Therefore, thus I will
do to you, O Israel; Because I shall do this to you, Prepare
to meet your God, O Israel” Amos 4:12.
God is a God of love and never brings judgment before giving
ample warning. Yet, if the warnings are ignored judgment
will certainly fall. Israel dismissed the warnings and reaped
the result. And so will we if we fail to take refuge from
the judgment that will unquestionably come on the whole
world.
No-one with their eyes even partly open can miss seeing
what lies ahead. The plots against American airlines last
week is a fresh reminder that the threat of terrorism is
not going away. Islamic extremism is determined to wipe
Israel off the face of the earth (and any nation that aligns
itself with Israel). A former Canadian ambassador to the
Middle East stated in an interview last week that he saw
no solution ever to the problem in that region. I see only
one: the coming of the Lord.
But surely we can not be blind to the reality that something
horrific looms just over the world’s horizon. Hence,
it is not a time to be occupied with idle questions. The
Lord rebuked such questions in His day.
On one occasion, a man asked the Lord Jesus if few would
be saved. The Lord refused to answer that question of curiosity
but replied, “Strive to enter by the narrow door;
for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be
able” Luke 13:24. In other words: Don’t worry
about people in general, make sure you get through the door,
yourself!
In view of future world conflict and the devastation it
will bring, it is not the time for us to speculate either.
The most important question for all of us is, have I made
adequate preparation for it?
Jim Beattie,
submitted by Russ Nesbit
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