by God's Little Boy
© MakeshiftDarkroom.com 2010
Posted 6/9/10

One thing that strikes me the clearest, when I am out in the field with my camera, is how fast the light is changing. Until you are trying to capture the light with a camera, you are seldom ever conscious of how quickly it moves. At times this race with the light can become pretty frantic - fumbling with the tripod and camera gear to set up for a quickly fading shot. Chasing fading light and running shadows (a landscape photographer’s occupation) is a testament to the reality that we live in a world in motion - no, a universe in motion.

Everything in the universe is in constant motion. Think of that for a moment, before you MOVE onto another thought. The galaxies are in motion, and their stars with them. The planets, in our solar system, are moving in their courses around the sun. The earth revolves on it’s axis. The weather systems, in our atmosphere, are in a constant state of flux. Temperatures rise and fall, storm fronts develop and subside. Day dawns, grows hot, then sets, giving a place to the dark of night. The ocean tides advance and recede, in their endless dance. There is also the life cycle: birth, life, and death, continually repeating down the line of procreation. Everything is in motion, even the minutest elements of physical creation. The subatomic particles of every atom in existence are in constant motion. Most of what we call "material" is, in one very real sense, "motion". All of these things point to the greatest mover of all - time. “Time waits for no one”. It is on a relentless pursuit of fulfillment; steadily marching on, determined to reach it’s end along side the fulfillment of God's word and the consummation of all things.

God, who is actively involved in the affairs of man and who is in complete control of human history, has set all things in motion. He skillfully and perfectly "works all things after the counsel of his own will." (Ephesians 1:11) It is all part of the outworking of his perfect master plan. A plan that he has decreed from eternity past. A plan with great purpose. Everything he has set in motion is moving toward it's completion and fulfillment.

" and He (Jesus) is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power". (Hebrews 1:3 amplified version)

Mankind may have their plans and purposes but, "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men." (Daniel 4:25b) Kings, rulers, and earthly authorities take counsel to do their own will. They consult to bring evil devices to pass, intent on fulfilling their own lusts, but the sovereign omnipotent Lord of Heaven overthrows or supersedes their plans with his invincible overruling will. When it seems as though men have the rule it is God who has given them a place in his permissive will. Unbeknownst to them, God has included all in his sovereign plan either as faithful vessels of honor or ungodly vessels of dishonor. Ultimately it is God's will that prevails.

"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35)

"The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect". (Psalm 33:10)

"And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and seteth up kings:"
(Daniel 2:21a)

Though God reigns from heaven, governing the affairs of man and restraining evil from an ultimate manifestation, he has permitted evil powers to exercise a degree of control in this present world. The purpose of which, in part, is to demonstrate the consequences of sin and evil in a world that is willfully, and rebelliously fallen from God. This present evil world order that we live under will soon be judged and superseded by the kingdom of heaven at the second coming of Christ. Evil will be put down and Christ, in fulfillment of a host of biblical prophecy, will reign in all his glory and complete authority. Satan, and the demonic powers, will be bound in hell and Christ will establish his kingdom on earth for a 1000 year period - and beyond into the eternal age. Heaven will come to earth!

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him," [wow] "Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." ( Matthew 25:31-32 )

"for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth". (Psalm 96:13b)

"And he laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season." (Revelation 20:2-3)

"And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4)

"but they should be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
(Revelation 20:6)

As recorded in the Old Testament, God gave a dream to King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar of Babylon, with prophetic meaning. God provided the interpretation through the prophet Daniel. The king's dream was of a great image resembling a man and composed of different metals; it was representative of the kingdoms of this world through time. One of the most powerful prophetic passages of scripture concerning the judgment of this world and the establishment of Christ's kingdom is revealed in this account. The following passages are powerfully stirring to those who understand their meaning.

"Thou saw until a stone (Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone) was cut out without hands (this was the plan and work of God, apart from man) which smote the image upon his feet (the world kingdom, in the end times) that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken to pieces together, (the final long awaited judgment of the world system) and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." ( Daniel 2:34-35 )

This glorious prophecy is awesome.

Verse :45b says that "the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof is sure."

Thus saith the Lord. "The dream is certain and the interpretation thereof is sure." In other words God is saying, make no mistake about this prophecy, these things will surely come to pass. God has purposed it and therefore it must be. There is no power above, beside, or below that can stop these things from coming to pass. Long ago, through prophecy, God said that Christ would come and purchase man's redemption on the cross, and it came to pass and history testifies to it. With the same certainty, Christ will surely return to reign in glory; for all that God says must come to pass.

This unbelieving world is presently on a collision course with judgment. The judgment is not for their sins because Christ paid for their sins on the cross. The judgment is for their unbelief - their rejection of Christ, the ultimate expression of evil. There is only one God and one savior. The world has willfully embraced many false gods, (satanic counterfeits) any and everything else but God himself. The world has cast Christ aside. The masses have defiantly declared, "We will not have this man to reign over us". (Luke 19:14b) The world is not a nice place. Through human viewpoint, which has become desensitized by sin, the world may seem nice . Divine viewpoint, however, tells us a different story. Those who look through God's lens and receive his vision see a more true and objective picture. The world system, beneath it's surface appearance, is a den of iniquity. "The whole world lieth in wickedness." (1 John 5:18b) Christ came into the world as a humble servant. He went about doing good, loving, healing, and speaking the truth. For this the world hated him and crucified him. This worldly spirit of "anti-Christ" is what will soon bring the wrath of God upon this world.

GOOD NEWS!

Take heart, for those who are entreatable, there is no need to be fearful, there is Good News! God has provided for us a "city of refuge" and an "ark" of safety and salvation. This is none other than Christ the Lord who ever stands ready to save. Though we were lost and ruined in Adam's fall, powerless to change or save ourselves, Christ has made a way for us. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11) Our sins have been "paid in full" and Jesus stands ready to pardon and justify all who come to him by faith. He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ( John 3:16 )

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23 )

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (1 John 2:17)

" Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent."
(John 6:28-29)

" but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:31)

"Sirs, What must I do to be saved? and they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:30-31)

"Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Friend, won't you take this opportunity, right now, to come to Christ by faith and receive forgiveness and the free gift of eternal life. The Bible says that you will "pass from death unto life". We are living in the age of grace and there is a loving invitation, given to all men and women, to come to Jesus and freely receive the salvation he graciously offers. Believe and be saved.

Those who belong to Christ, and are adopted into his royal family, are not appointed to God's wrath. On the contrary, they become the objects of his great love, inexhaustible grace, and enduring mercy. God will lead them through this life with gentleness, kindness, and patience and will deliver them "out of " the hour of judgment.

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Romans 5:1)

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
(Romans 5:9)

"For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

"And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)  

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