Activated Magazine 2004 / 07

(Traditional Chinese Activated mag 7-English text mostly from English mag issue 6)

cover:
The Lion, the Dragon and the Beast?
Beauty for Ashes
Tank up

page 2

Editor: Sunny Hsu
Graphic Design: Giselle LeFavre, Marcus
Illustrations: Hugo Westphal, Max Belmont, Jac Boyer, Anthony, Philippe LaPlume
Production: Francisco Lopez

© 1999 Aurora Production, Ltd.
All Rights Reserved

Activated USA
P.O. Box 4307
Orange, CA 92863-4307
USA
e-mail:
activatedUSA@activated.org

Activated Europe
Bramingham Pk. Business Ctr.
Enterprise Way
Bramingham Park
Luton, Beds. LU3 4BU
ENGLAND
e-mail:
activatedEurope@activated.org

Activated India
P.O. Box 5215
G.P.O.
Bangalore - 1
India
e-mail:
activatedIndia@activated.org

Unless indicated otherwise, all
Scripture quotations in Activated! are
from the Chinese Union Bible, Chinese Living Bible,
Modern Chinese Bible & new Chinese Bible.

Personally speaking

Sometimes children just can’t wait to find out. Is that bundle in Mommy’s closet my Christmas present? What will it be like at the lake and why is Daddy driving so slow? What will it feel like to be eighteen?
But come to think of it, wouldn’t we all sometimes like to peek into the future? Will the weather be nice for our outing this weekend? Will our favorite sports team win the big game? Can I believe this used car salesman’s claims about this car?
Then there are more serious questions that weigh heavily on us. Will I get the promotion I’m hoping for, or will I even be able to keep my job through the economy’s ups and downs? Will I be able to adequately provide for my family? In a world where godly morals seem to be in steep decline and humanity has the capability to annihilate itself through nuclear war, what kind of legacy are we leaving for our children? Will the depletion of the Earths ozone layer through never-ending pollution trigger a global disaster? Or will the continued rapid increase in world population lead to global food shortages, as some experts warn?
In this issue of Activated! We take a closer look at Bible prophecies that talk specifically about the times in which we live. These are not only fascinating to study, but we can take comfort in knowing that current developments are all part of Gods great Endtime plan. As we see events that He has foretold come to pass, we can be sure that the future and our well-being are in His hands. The outlook may be bleak, but the uplook couldn’t be brighter!

Sunny Hsu
For your Activated! family

page 3

Second Chances
By George Dunbar
ONE MORNING, A MECHANIC who has worked on our van
from time to time knocked on our door in Korat,
Thailand. He was very sad and very mad at the same time.
He said that his wife had left him for another man a few
days earlier. Now she wanted the house and this and that.
The man had been drinking heavily, and he didn’t know
what to do or who to talk with. He had a gun in his car, and
said he wanted to go and kill his wife and her boyfriend,
then kill himself.
He didn’t really understand what had brought him to
our gate; he had just been driving around aimlessly, then
suddenly he found himself at our house. The Lord had
brought him to us, of course.
My wife and I tried to calm him down and help him
see that killing anyone wasn’t the answer. “As impossible as
this must seem right now, it would be better to just let her
go,” we advised him. “Don’t try to take judgment into your
own hands. Leave that to God. He knows what’s best for
everyone concerned.”
It took a while, but the man finally calmed down. Before
he left, he prayed with us to receive Jesus, and we prayed
together for the Lord’s solution to his problem.
Some days later he came to us again for advice. His
wife had come back and had asked him to forgive her and
give her another chance. All of his friends told him not to
take her back. What should he do?
We told him that the decision was his, of course, but
that the Lord always forgives us for our mistakes and sins,
and then He gives us another chance to do things right.
Our mechanic, by now a dear friend, was very happy to
hear that, as he really loved his wife and already knew in his
heart that that was the right thing to do.
“Jesus and you have changed my life!” he exclaimed as
he left.
Isn’t it wonderful how He does that?

 

pages 4 - 7

The Lion Dragon and Beast
By John Weaver

Dragons, beasts and creatures strange,
Are found within the pages
Of ancient script and holy writ,
From prophets, seers and sages.

In shocking visions they beheld
The rise and fall of nations.
Yet few believe or can perceive
Their signs and revelations.

Though skeptics brush such words aside,
As myths and senseless stories,
Wise men attest the future rests
Within these allegories.

So hearken to the mystery
Of the Lion and His foes,
And you will see what soon shall be,
As time draws to its close.


A STARTLING PICTURE of our planets future is presented in the Bibles Book of Revelation (also known as The Apocalypse), written 19 centuries ago. Even skeptics who have studied the ancient prophecies of Revelation admit that they are uncanny in their accurate depiction of a number of events and developments which have only become possible since the advent of the microprocessor.
What many people find unsettling is that Revelation warns that the fulfillment of its predictions will signify that the world as we now know it has entered its final era. This period is referred to in prophecy as the Last Days or the Time of the End.
A large number of prophecy scholars agree that the world stage is rapidly being set for the final showdown between the forces of good and evil, an awesome event known as Armageddon. The principal characters in this cosmic conflict are symbolically depicted by Saint John the Revelator as a Lion, a Dragon and a Beast.

THE LION
Is introduced in Revelation as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah [who] has triumphed” (Revelation 5:5). This majestic heavenly figure is portrayed elsewhere in Revelation as the Lamb.
Although a lamb is usually considered one of the meekest and weakest of all creatures, this unique lion like Lamb is the mighty Conqueror who ultimately vanquishes all evil. His power knows no limits. The mere mention of His name causes Hell and its minions to tremble. Though the Dragon and the Beast will array all of their forces against the Lamb and His followers, their efforts will prove futile and their defeat will be utter.

These [the armies of the Beast] will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them: for He [Jesus Christ] is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:14).

THE DRAGON’s debut is described in Revelation. It reads as follows:
And there appeared another wonder in Heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. ... and there was war in Heaven: Michael [the archangel] and his angels fought against the dragon ... and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world ... and the dragon was wroth and went to make war with [those] who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:3,7-9,17).
The Dragon is the evil spiritual entity commonly known as the Devil or Satan. Because he is a spirit, in order to effectively operate in Earths material realm, he works primarily through human agents. Throughout the ages he has energized and possessed individuals who yielded to his evil influence and power. Most of the tyrants and demagogues of history were instruments through whom the Dragon carried out his program of oppressing, enslaving and destroying mankind.

THE BEAST
Was symbolically envisioned by St. John as an unearthly creature rising from the depths, a monster that derives his power from the Dragon:

I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:1-2).
According to numerous prophecies, the Beast is personified in a powerful political figure who will soon appear on the world scene. He will become the leader of a New World Order that will govern the globe and demand the allegiance of all nations. He is also known in Scripture as the Antichrist or the Son of Perdition. He will be fully possessed by Satan. Once he has secured his position as the head of the One World government, the Beast will demand his subjects worship.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” ... All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb (Revelation 13:3,4,8).
The Beast will come to power with a seven-year agreement, a covenant (which could possibly be put into effect secretly). He will promise world peace and religious freedom, and will temporarily resolve the Middle East crisis, working out a compromise between the Jews and the Arabs regarding Jerusalem and its holy sites. A focal point of this covenant will be Mount Moriah, Jerusalem, where the Jews ancient temple stood before being destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., and where the Muslim Dome of the Rock and the Mosque of Omar stand today. Scripture indicates this covenant will enable the Jews to rebuild their temple on this hotly contested holy site. (See Daniel 8:23-25; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Daniel 9:27.)
Initially, most of the world will hail the Beast as a political savior. But three and a half years after the enactment of the seven-year covenant, he will revoke it, and forbid and abolish all traditional religious worship, declaring that he himself is God, and demanding that all the world worship him! (See Daniel 9:27; 8:9-12; 11:21-24,28-31,36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4,8,9.)
At this time, an extraordinary idol, described in Revelation as the image of the Beast, will be erected, apparently in Jerusalem on the grounds of the rebuilt Jewish temple. Jesus referred to this image as the “Abomination of Desolation” (Matthew 24:15). This image is likely to be an incredibly high-tech supercomputer, intrinsically linked to the New World Orders telecommunications network. Scripture says it will speak and somehow “cause those who refuse to worship it to be killed” (Revelation 13:14-15). Jesus said that when you see this image standing “in the holy place ... then shall be Great Tribulation such as the world has never known” (Matthew 24:15-21). It will be a time of ruthless repression and persecution of believers in God by the Beast and his regime. (See Daniel 11:31; 12:11; Revelation 13:14-15.)
During this three-and-a-half-year Tribulation period, a universal credit system will be instituted, rendering paper money obsolete. Revelation says all those who submit to the Beast will receive a government credit number implanted in their right hand or forehead (probably in the form of a tiny microchip inserted under the skin, something quite feasible with today’s technology). The number 666 will somehow be central to this system. Opponents of the Beast will be singled out, as no one will be allowed to legally buy or sell without this number or mark of the Beast. But Gods true children will refuse it, and will be supernaturally provided for by God Himself. (See Revelation 13:16-18; 12:6,14.)
EXACTLY 3-1/2 YEARS after the Beast breaks the covenant and begins his rampage against believers in God, the mighty “Lion of Judah,” Jesus Christ Himself, will suddenly “descend from Heaven with a shout,” returning “in the clouds, with power and great glory” to supernaturally rescue all of His people from the clutches of their bestial persecutors. Everyone who loves Jesus and has received Him in their hearts will instantly be transformed as they receive supernatural resurrection bodies, just like Jesus body after He was resurrected! They will sail up towards the sky in a climactic event commonly known as the Rapture, “to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord!” (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). (See also 1 Corin-thians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21.)
Jesus will then whisk away His “Bride”, all those who love and follow Him to the greatest, most thrilling party that has ever been held, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven! During this time God will pour out fierce judgments and wrath upon the Beast and his evil forces on Earth. God delivers the final blow to the Dragons minions when the Beasts armies gather together in Israel, near the site of the ancient town of Megiddo, in a place known as “the Height of Megiddo,” for which the Hebrew word is Armageddon. Then Jesus, along with His followers, will return to Earth on supernatural flying horses to utterly defeat and destroy the forces of evil in the catastrophic Battle of Armageddon. (See Revelation 9:13-21; 19:11-21; 17:14; 16:12-21.)
Jesus and His followers will then take over the world and organize and rule and run it the way it should have been run all along. Only then will all wars finally cease and the world will at last be governed fairly, with true justice, liberty, peace, plenty and happiness for all! This amazing period will last for one thousand years, and is therefore known as the Millennium. (See Revelation 20:1-4; Daniel 2:44; 7:18,26,27; Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 22:27,28; 47:2,3,7,8.)
At the end of the Millennium, God will completely renew the face of the Earth, resulting in a paradisiacal Garden-of-Eden-like New Earth. Gods great heavenly city, New Jerusalem, will then descend from above to settle on the recreated planet. This magnificent Space City is an astounding 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles high! It will be inhabited only by the Lords saved children, who will enjoy unlimited heavenly happiness, pleasure and paradise forever! (See Revelation chapters 21 and 22.)

Pull quote: It will be a time of ruthless repression and persecution

* * *
When we get into the details of the last 2 chapters of Revelations, we can’t help but realize the Lord’s love & mercy for us. He says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev 21:4) Isn’t it one of the most beautiful scriptures in the whole Bible? If you read it carefully, you’ll find that people will still be crying at that time. I think when people reach to Heaven, facing the Lord, many people will weep for their sins & failure in their former lives.
But isn't the Lord full of grace, love & mercy? He says He's going to wipe away all those tears, & He's going to wipe away all that memory of those evil years, & there will be no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow, no more tears, only eternal, wonderful happiness, joy & paradise on Earth forever & ever!
It’ll be so wonderful, you’ll forget all of your past troubles & worry! Everything will be so wonderful, all of the difficult tests & trials on Earth will be forgotten.
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus!
Life’s trial will seem so small, when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”

pages 8 - 9

Daniel Two

A Picture of the Past And Future

            The prophet Daniel was a teenager when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem for the first time in 605 B.C. Daniel and other Jews of royal blood were taken captive and brought to Babylon, where they were trained to become counselors of the king. “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined [Daniel and his three friends, whom the king renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego], he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm” (Daniel 1:20).
Daniel chapter 2 recounts a prophetic dream and its interpretation, and in so doing gives a concise overview of the history and future of the world, from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar to the Second Coming of Jesus and beyond.

The dream
Nebuchadnezzar had a mysterious dream that left him troubled. When his magicians, astrologers, and others were not able to tell him both what he had dreamed and the interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar sentenced all of his counselors to death. But when the king’s guard came for Daniel and his companions, Daniel said that he could tell the king his dream and its meaning. Daniel and his friends prayed, and “the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision” (verses 1-19).
“There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets,” Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, “and He has made known to you what will be in the latter days” (verse 28). Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar what the king had dreamed and what it meant.
“You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. … And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (verses 31-35).

The interpretation
The head of gold: Babylon. “You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory. … You are this head of gold” (verses 37-38). Babylon was also known as the “golden city” of ancient times, and is referred to as such in another Bible passage, Isaiah 14:1-4.
The chest and arms of silver: Medo-Persia. “After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours” (verse 39a). We know from history that Medo-Persia conquered Babylon in 538 B.C. It is appropriate that the kingdom of Persia is depicted here by two arms because the Medes were the first nation to be incorporated into the Persian Empire, and many Medes held important positions in the Persian Empire.
The belly of bronze: Greece. “A third kingdom of bronze … shall rule over all the earth” (verse 39b). Again, we know from history that in 333 B.C., over 200 years after this prophecy was given, Alexander the Great and the Greek army conquered the Persian Empire. It is interesting that Greece is symbolized here as the belly and thighs of the image, because the Greeks were known for being uninhibited about sex and nudity.
The legs of iron: Rome. “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others” (verse 40). Rome conquered Greece and held iron rule over the entire known (western) world for nearly 500 years. It is appropriate that it was represented as two legs because it was often administered as two regions and in its decline was divided into the Western Roman Empire, with its capital in Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire (later called the Byzantine Empire), with its capital at Constantinople. The Romans were also great on marching and were the first world empire to build an extensive network of highways-important for deploying armies to quell revolts.
The feet and toes of iron and clay: strong and weak governments of the Endtime. “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. … They will mingle … but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay”  (verses 41-43). Since the fall of the Roman Empire, no single empire has ruled the entire known world. Instead, there has been a mix of smaller nations and empires with both strong and weak governments. However, the soon-to-arise empire of the Devil-possessed dictator known as the Antichrist will, for a very brief period, unite all nations and rule the world in some kind of One World Order. The nations represented by the 10 toes will be united under the Antichrist.
The stone and the mountain: Jesus and the kingdom of God. The stone that was cut out of a mountain represents Jesus, and the great mountain that filled the whole earth is the soon-coming kingdom of God on earth. The rock striking the image on the feet, rather than on the head or elsewhere, signifies what time the kingdoms of man will be destroyed: the time in which we are now living, the “latter days” (verse 28), also known as the Endtime. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (verse 44). •

[Callout:] The toes were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.

(In a box:)

Summary

Image: Represents 5 World Empires and the Endtime!
1. The head of gold: Babylon Empire of old.
(Dan 2:32,38)
2. The chest and arms of silver: Ancient dual kingdom of Medo-Persia.
(Dan 2:32, 39 & Dan 5:25-31)
3. The belly of bronze: Greek Empire of old.
(Dan 2:32, 39 & Dan 8:3-8, 20, 21)
4. The legs of iron: The ancient Roman Empire.
(Dan 2:33, 40)
5. The feet of iron and clay: From the middle ages until now.
The Roman Empire was divided into iron like dictatorships & clay like democracies.
(Dan 2:33, 41)
6. The toes of iron and clay: The final Antichrist empire & its 10 allies.
(Dan 2:33, 42, 43; Dan 7:24 & Rev 17:12-13)
7. The stone: Jesus’ second coming.
(Dan 2:34; 1 Cor 10:4; 1 Pe 2:6) This “stone” (the Rock-Jesus) crushes man’s kingdom. (Dan 2:34, 35, 44; Rev 17: 12-14 & Mat 21: 42-44)   

 

pages 10 - 11

Answers to your Questions...

Q: I have a terrible temper. What can I do to change?

            A: Realizing that you have a problem with anger is the first step, and being able to admit that to others is the second. You’re well on your way already!
The all-important third step is asking the Lord to help you change. Without Him, you can do nothing good, but with His help you can do anything! (See John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13.)
Understanding anger is also important. Pent-up anger is like a time bomb. Learn how it works and you can deactivate it before it goes off. Here are a few pointers:

- Lets face it--anger is often the result of selfish concerns. We don’t get our own way, our pride is wounded or we somehow feel slighted or mistreated by others, so we become frustrated, upset, and angry.
- The ability to control your anger is a sign of maturity and an admirable quality. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).
- Think before you speak. If you can hold back long enough to think through what you’re about to say, you can usually express your feelings in a healthy way. “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back [until afterwards]” (Proverbs 29:11).
- Consider the consequences. Letting your bad feelings spill out in uncontrolled actions or words can only cause mistakes, hurt those you love, and destroy friendships. “An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment” (Proverbs 29:22; 19:19).
- Learn to recognize the danger signals. Whoever said that “anger is one letter short of danger” was probably speaking from experience and they were quite right! Early warning signals vary from person to person, but you know how you feel when you begin to get angry. Stop it there. “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29).
- Ask for help. Confess to those you’re getting angry with (or in front of) that your feelings are getting out of control. That’s humbling, but not as humbling as having to apologize after an ugly fit of anger.
- Pray and ask Jesus to help you. You can excuse yourself and pray privately elsewhere, if you must, but praying with others brings optimum results. Jesus promised, “Ask what you will, and it will be done unto you” (John 15:7).
- Redirect your anger. Channeling that pent-up energy to some constructive activity helps you get your mind off of what made you angry in the first place. Cut the grass. Mop the kitchen floor. Get your daily exercise. Or better yet, do some loving thing for whomever you got angry with.
- Go to the Word. “How can a young man [or any of us!] cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:9).

For more from the Bible on the subject of anger, refer to Discover Truth a collection of Bible verses on a variety of topics relating to everyday life. Please dial the reader’s service line on page 2 for more information or to subscribe.

[Callout:] People who jump to conclusions often make bad landings.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being with me all the time in the journey of life, and thank You for showing me that our destination is Your Heavenly Kingdom. Thank You for preparing such a beautiful place that’s beyond our imagination, beautiful & happy for Your children!

 

Feeding Reading

Our Best Protection

The Bible is full of amazing stories of how God protected His children who looked to Him when things couldn’t have looked worse, stories that can strengthen our faith that God will also protect us through the trying times that are almost upon us. Here are a few that have encouraged and strengthened millions down through the centuries:

The parting of the Red Sea
Exodus 14

A giant challenge
1 Samuel 17

Delivered!
2 Samuel 22

Elisha’s secret army
2 Kings 6

Fear not!
Psalm 37

The safest place in the world
Psalm 91

Four in the fire
Daniel 3

A night in the lion’s den
Daniel 6

A warning just in time
Matthew 2

Coming Next…

Who would you trust?
Who would you trust to fix your car?-Some apprentice? Or the Designer that knows everything about the car? In the same way, when you are sick, who would you trust to heal you? Don’t you think seeking our Creator’s help is safer than a doctor that’s still learning about your body? No one knows more than the manufacturer about the car’s structure & everything, in the same way, no one knows you better than your Creator!
Don’t miss the next issue of Activated!, you’ll find when you are sick, how you can get healing from the Healer whose qualification & competence surpasses all others-God, who has designed & created you & has given you life!

pages 12 - 13

Why does God allow sins & suffering?

Q: I’ve read in the Bible and often heard people say,
“God is love,” or “God loves you,” but if that’s so, why
does He allow so much suffering in the world? He’s
all-powerful, right? So why doesn’t He put a stop to
things like disease and poverty and war and natural
disasters?

 

Nearly all of us have asked those questions at one time
or another. The answer hinges on two basic truths:
First, most suffering is not due to so-called natural causes.
In other words, it’s not according to the way God intended
for things to work; it’s not His doing. It’s man’s doing.
Second, He has given us freedom of choice, and this plays
a big part in His plan for us. He didn’t create us as robots,
but with decision-making abilities and the need to exercise
them. He put us here to make choices between right and
wrong, good and evil.
So when it comes right down to it, most suffering is
the result of people’s choices. Sometimes people deliberately
inflict suffering on others, and sometimes the suffering
is a byproduct of selfish choices or indifference-choosing
not to make choices that could avoid or alleviate the
suffering. But either way, people are to blame. God doesn’t
approve of choices that harm others or us, but if He were
to step in every time we made a bad choice, He’d have to
put an end to freedom of choice altogether.
Why do people make choices that hurt others?-Because
they put themselves first and choose their own ways
over God and His loving ways. God has given each of us a
conscience-an inborn sense of right and wrong. In the
Bible He also gives us the solution to suffering and all the
other ills we bring upon ourselves. It’s a solution that’s so
simple it can be summed up in one word: love. “Love does
no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). God tries to guide
us into doing what’s loving and right, but He won’t force us.
Now let’s take a closer look at that question, starting
with war. Wars are the ultimate manifestation of man’s
selfishness, greed, pride, and competitive spirit. The Bible
puts it this way: “From whence come wars and fightings
among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that
war in your members?” (James 4:1-2 KJV). God hates war,
but again, to put an end to war He would have to put an
end to freedom of choice.
And what about hunger and poverty? God did not
create this inequality in the world’s wealth or standard of
living. He has provided more than enough food and other
natural resources so that no one needs to go hungry or be
deprived of other basic needs. The world can produce
enough food to feed its expanding population. While some
famines are caused by drought or other natural disasters,
most starvation today could be avoided were it not for man’s
selfishness and inhumanity. War, embargoes, government
corruption, and economic oppression are all to blame. While
innocent children starve, some rich nations destroy millions
of tons of food in order to keep prices artificially high.
Then there is the health question. If God is so righteous,
why does He allow sickness? Much of the suffering brought
about by sickness is also man-made. We disobey God’s
health rules and eat ourselves sick on processed junk
food made from genetically altered ingredients
and laced with chemical preservatives. We also
voluntarily make ourselves sick by smoking,
drinking in excess, and taking prescription
and illegal drugs that cause cancer and heart
disease or harm our minds and bodies in
other ways. The stress and rush of our unnatural
modern lifestyle also contributes to
many psychosomatic illnesses such as severe
headaches, stomach ulcers, and heart
trouble.
Possibly the biggest question of all is
why God allows so many innocent people to be
killed by natural disasters like floods, earthquakes,
hurricanes, etc., over which man has little or no control.
How you interpret these events depends on whether you
believe in a loving, righteous God and an afterlife or not.
If there were no afterlife, then natural disasters are a travesty
against justice. But to those who have faith in God
and implicit confidence in His love and mercy and righteousness
and justice, as well as belief in a better life after
this one, there is an answer: God, in His mercy, sometimes
sees fit to end people’s suffering once and for all by taking
them out of this world to the far better one He has waiting
for all those who love Him, where all wrongs will be made
right and people will be rewarded according to their works,
whether they be good or evil.
It’s also reassuring to know that it won’t always be like
this. The day is coming when Jesus Christ will return to put
an end to the senseless suffering man inflicts on his fellow
man. Then and only then, under the all-powerful rule and
reign of Christ and God’s children, will there be peace and
plenty for all, with no more suffering, no more hunger, no
more starvation, no more poor, and no more war!

page 14
BEAUTY FOR ASHES

We used to sing a little song about the Lord:
He gives me joy in place of sorrow,
He gives me love that casts out fear,
He gives me sunshine for my shadow,
And beauty for ashes dear.
In order to bring forth the sweetness, there has to
be some suffering. To bring about the beauty of the
flame, something must go to ashes.
Blessings come from suffering--“beauty for ashes”
(Isaiah 61:3). This is borne out so well in Hebrews 12:
11, which says: “Now no chastening seems joyful for
the present, but painful: nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have
been trained by it.”
It’s like a giant hand taking a honeycomb and
squeezing it-and out comes the honey. Or it’s like when
Moses smote the rock: The rock received a fierce blow,
but out came the water (Exodus 17:1-7). The heart of
stone has to be broken before the water [of God’s Spirit]
can flow out to refresh the people. It’s like a beautiful
flower that’s pressed and crushed, but out comes the
perfume. Or like the beautiful music that comes from
the throat of the bird, almost as though it’s in pain, yet it
comes forth with song. Even though the bird’s song may
be sad, it’s so sweet. The groans are not murmurs, but
songs of praise and thanksgiving to God-a sad, sweet
song! As the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley once wrote, “Our
sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thoughts!”
Praise is the voice of faith!
We could never appreciate the light unless we had
once been in darkness. We couldn’t appreciate health
unless we had been sick. We can’t appreciate joy until
we’ve known sorrow. We can’t appreciate God’s mercy
until we’ve known the Devil’s justice.
(Prayer:) Lord, help us not to quench that beautiful
song, even if it’s sad, to thank You in spite of the
sorrow. Help us to be willing to go through whatever
we need to in order to give forth Your sweetness, Your
fragrance, Your beauty, Your song, Your refreshing
waters. Out of what seems like defeat come some of
Your greatest victories!
“[God] comforts us in all our tribulation, that we
may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

 

page 15

Your New Life of Love

Quiet Time
God tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God,” and “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 30:15). And Jesus practiced what the Bible preaches. Several times in the Gospels it says that Jesus rose before the break of day, before His disciples were awake, in order to get alone with His Father and get His instructions for the day. At other times He left the multitudes and His disciples and went off to a secluded place to pray. If even Jesus had to do it, how much more we need to do it!
We all need quiet times with the Lord when we step out of our busy routines to rest our minds and spirits, commit our problems and cares to Him in prayer, get strengthened by His Word, and be refreshed by a few moments of sweet fellowship with Him. In fact, many of His promises are contingent on our doing just that. “Come to Me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28); “Call to Me, and I will … show you great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3); “Abide in Me … and [what you ask] shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
If you will set aside 10 or 15 minutes each day or even more for “quiet time” with the Lord, you will find that your days will go a lot smoother. It doesn’t have to be at a set place or time, or follow any particular ritual. Just stop what you’re doing and think about the Lord. Share your heart with Him, and listen to His still small voice in your heart give you the answers, encouragement and strength you need to face your day. “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).


page 16
From Jesus-with Love!
 
Always and forever…


I pour forth My love constantly, without end. The f low is always rich and free and abundant, but how much you see and feel this love in your life depends on your faith-how much you look for it and recognize it in the innumerable ways that I manifest My love each day. Whether or not you see it or feel it or recognize it does not change the fact that My love is constant and abundant and unconditional.
You cannot deserve it or work for it or be worthy of it in yourself, for My love is a free gift. I love you because I love you.-It's as simple as that! I love you, I will never stop loving you, and I will never love you any less than I do today. I will always love you with a perfect, unending, and abundant love.
I long for you to partake of this love of Mine in all its richness, beauty, power, and glory. My love for you is forever love.

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