Merry Christmas...without the 'X'
As millions of Americans celebrate Christmas, the American Humanist Association is in the midst of their annual membership drive punctuated by smart-aleck billboards and city bus placards that mock the existence of moral authority and belittle faith in Christ.
Two years ago, their motto was "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake!" Last year, they were more direct: "No god? No problem!" But this year, as they feebly attempt to detract from the celebration of Christ's incarnation once again, perhaps it's a fruitful exercise for our civilization to consider their overtures and weigh the merit of their message.
As far as I can tell, the mantra "No god? No problem!" has but one minor flaw: the entire record of human history. It is no coincidence that as German atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche boasted, "God is dead ... we have killed him ... must we not ourselves become gods[?]" (which, by the way, is the entire basis of humanism dating back to the Garden of Eden), he simultaneously predicted that the 20th century would be the most murderous in human history.
Indeed, the banner slogan of "No god? No problem!" could hang poignantly over the ovens of Auschwitz, the killing fields of Cambodia, and the trash bins of Planned Parenthood.
But the atheist/humanist has no such moral center...no fixed point of reference. Such people may talk at length about the need to be "good," but in the final analysis, their presuppositions fundamentally reject any concrete basis for morality.
But suggesting that reason alone is sufficient to direct behavior is intellectually dishonest. Human reason will always be guided by presuppositions. That is why civilizations like ancient Rome found it reasonable to murder handicapped children while we in the Western world find that abominable.
Jacoby noted that Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger wrote, "'We drown even children who at birth are weakly and abnormal,' ... stressing that 'it is not anger but reason'" that provides justification for such an act. This horrific practice is the result of reason built upon a godless foundation.
That fact alone should cause the atheist to pause as he taunts believers with signs proclaiming "Merry X-mas." Creating a Christ-less holiday season may seem like a worthy cause until you realize where it leads. Civilizations torn free from the moorings of moral authority are not the kind anyone would want to live in...not even a fervent atheist.
AMEN.
Their efforts will succeed, however, in a day that is rapidly approaching. The Christians who are presently residing on the earth, along with the Holy Spirit, actually serve as a restraining force against the evil that exists on the earth today. We prophecy students know this - and even with this restraint, we see the evil that persists all around the globe.
The atheists will have their "day", once we are removed from this earth - a "day" which will last for a seven year period. Then, their model for a perfect society - a society without God (but with their "god") - will have an ample opportunity to finally succeed without those pesky Christians around to thwart their plans.
And we prophecy students know exactly how that will work out - as we have vivid descriptions provided in Revelation 6-18.
Their day is coming, and it is coming soon.
But our day is also coming. A glorious day in which our bridegroom, Jesus will be coming back to take "His" back home:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God and also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go there to prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me
that you will also be where I am."
John 14:1-3
Note that the above scripture is not referencing the Second Coming, as at the time of the well-described Second Coming (Zechariah 14:3-5, Revelation 19) Jesus isn't taking anybody anywhere. He will come to establish His 1,000 year reign on the earth.
Rather, the scripture above is providing a clear reference to the Rapture of the Church, and that place He is taking us is called New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12, 21, 22) - a special place within Heaven that is reserved for Jesus' Bride - the Church.
There are two parallel roads that are quite visible right now. One road leads to New Jerusalem, and that road will be led by Christ. This road includes Jesus returning to gather up His Bride and then take them back home - before the destruction and carnage of the earth, as led by the antichrist.
The other road is being paved by the very same atheists that are described in this article. This road leads directly into the Tribulation, the rule by the antichrist and everything that we know about this seven-year period of death and destruction.
The time has come to witness as much as possible to friends and family who have not yet recognized Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. That time is growing short. They have no idea of where their road is headed - they have no idea of the death, the pain, the destruction and the horrors that await. Its our job to inform them and to direct their attention to Jesus.
We don't have much time left. The clock is ticking as the countdown continues.
Meanwhile we can be completely secure in the promises made by Jesus. We have a glorious fate that awaits us - a fate that includes being in the very presence of Jesus - in a glorious place called New Jerusalem.
I can barely wait.
Maranatha! He is coming soon!
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