7 Billion and Counting

When I mention the mind-boggling number of 7 Billion, I’m not talking about the number of hamburgers sold by McDonalds; I’m talking about us, humankind.  

The earth’s human population has just past or is very near 7 billion souls at this very moment in October, 2011.  The “Dooms-Day” prophets of science and human ecology foretell of our lives being consumed in fear and hardship due to famine, global warming, environmental pollution, intensification of wars (“rumors of wars,” MK 13:7-8), revolutions, and genocide.  All these are real plagues upon earth, the evil of hate on all life.  All of these plagues began to eat away at our world, and human beings, at the moment of the first sin; a downward spiral of death has ensued, it is called entropy by a physicist.  The reality of the gloom-and-doom is accurate, secular science and humanism has realized and has forecasted what Scripture taught us a long time ago. 

God in his own timing, a moment unknown to us, will destroy all that plagues his creation, to include the earth as we know it.  Bur, He will resurrect a new earth (see 2 Peter 3:10-13).  All that isn’t good—the product of sin and evil, such as, war, prejudice, pollution, abuse, hate, cruelty, greed—will be burnt up.  God will end all that is bad.  The Lord will establish His kingdom on earth and in heaven.  There will be a new creation, a new earth (Isa 65:17, 44:22; 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1).          

In Luke 21:9-11, 17-91 Jesus said:

“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.  … Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.  …  All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.”  

Verse 18 reminds us that in your hope, your faith in Christ, you have a promise, you will not perish!  You have salvation from eternal disaster and separation from God.  We find a little different wording in The Message paraphrase for verse 19, it says it this way:  “Staying with it — that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.”  Being a disciple of Jesus, a Christ follower goes beyond the good times, discipleship requires and takes your life, one must commit to “Staying with it—that’s what is required,” then “you’ll be saved.”  Sadly, all 7 Billion won’t be “staying with it,” however, if you follow Christ, then you will hear him say, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT).

Owen <><

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