5 Things Christ Will Undo and Redo at His Return. Retire? What Do You Bring to Church? Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

5 Things Christ Will Undo and Redo at His Return

“Mankind has done much damage to this earth, but God has a plan to fix man’s many mistakes. What will Christ “undo” and “redo” when He returns to earth?

As a software developer, I consider “undo” to be an essential tool, and I use it often. When making changes to software, I occasionally realize I made a mistake. The easiest way to fix that mistake is to undo the changes I made and go back and do it right. I am fortunate to use an editor that remembers changes I made even after it has been closed.

Wouldn’t life be great if we could undo our past mistakes and have a redo? Though life doesn’t provide us such an option, God has a plan that will undo the damage we humans have done to this earth, to one another and to ourselves. His plan is in motion and soon will be evident to all mankind when Jesus Christ returns to earth to establish God’s Kingdom here.

Under Christ’s perfect government, mankind will learn to “redo” life, but this time following the perfect laws of God.

Let’s consider some of the major things that will be undone and redone after Christ’s return.

1. Swords and plowshares

Undo: War between nations.

Redo: Peaceful, mutually beneficial relationships between nations.

After Christ returns, He will teach the nations His law, which is based on love Just before Christ returns to the earth, there will be a period of intense worldwide warfare when people will be beating “plowshares into swords” and “pruning hooks into spears” (Joel 3:10). This is ancient language describing implements of food production (which sustains life) being turned into implements of warfare (which destroys life).

But after Christ returns, He will teach the nations His law, which is based on love (2 John 1:6). When godly love is understood and practiced on an international level, the nations will turn “swords [back] into plowshares” and “spears [back] into pruning hooks” (Micah 4:3).

2. Food shortages

Undo: Hunger and malnutrition affecting millions of people.

Redo: An abundance of food where everyone’s needs are met.

As we covered above, after Christ returns, the nations will no longer devote their economic resources to warfare and defense, but will instead redirect their economies to food production. Christ will restore an emphasis on agriculture that will allow the nations to sustain healthy populations. The prophet Amos foresaw a world where the “plowman shall overtake the reaper” (Amos 9:13).

3. Dangerous animals

Undo: The instinctual nature in many wild animals that makes them dangerous to humans and each other.

Redo: A transformed nature of wild animals that makes them docile, tame and harmless.

In the creation described in the first two chapters of Genesis, there was perfect harmony between the animals and mankind. But when Adam and Eve sinned and were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, they found many wild animals were now hostile to human beings. Christ will change the violent natures of animals so they will dwell safety with one another and with mankind (Isaiah 11:6-9).

4. Knowledge of God      Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/5-things-christ-will-undo-and-redo-at-his-return/

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Retire

How does God view the retiree?

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/pTQ_MFBqLt8

[Steve Myers] “Many people look forward to retirement. You get to a certain age, and it’s time for something different. But retiring from work and all of those activities and our labor, does that mean that we can retire from being a Christian? Or does it mean that there isn’t any use for us when we reach a certain age, and we’re just seemingly put out to pasture?

Well, Psalm 92 gives us a lot of information about that very fact. Psalm 92 – in fact, we’ll begin in verse 12. It says this: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” That sounds like something for a young person. But a little bit later in verse 13 it says, “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of God.” Verse 14, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing to show that the Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there’s no unrighteousness in Him” (Psalms 92:12-14).

You see, Christianity isn’t just for young people – it’s for old people, it’s for retirees. And yet, we’re not just put out to pasture as, you know, elderly Christians. Psalm 92 makes it very clear that even though we’re old, we can still produce something. We can produce something spiritual. We can produce good spiritual fruit. And in fact, I think it’s the NRSV that says, “They’re always green and fresh.” And so even elderly have lot to offer when it comes to Christianity. So don’t ever think that you’re just put out to pasture when you retire from your job. As God’s people, we can always be fresh and green and contribute in major spiritual ways.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/retire

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What Do You Bring to Church?

Before you write-off going to church, ask yourself this important question.

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/u-Q2a4hy3Qc

[Darris McNeely] “Have you been one of those that occasionally will say, “I don’t get anything out of church. I think I’m gonna quit this church, go find another church that’s more exciting, better music. More personable pastor,” whatever it is, “I just don’t get anything out of church.” Or maybe you’re one of those that just don’t attend anything, any church any longer. Why is that? What happens? You know, it’s a common thing that is reported on. I’ve heard it many, many times. And to be honest, I’ve felt it a few times more or less in my own years as a pastor and as sitting in congregations. But as I’ve thought it through, it actually betrays a misunderstanding that a lot of us have about God, about church, and about its purpose.

Consider this, if you don’t get something out of church or you get nothing out of the service or whatever, could it be that you haven’t brought anything to it yourself other than your own body? You’ve not brought any desire. You’ve not brought any passion. You’ve not brought any emotion. You have no needs that you’ve brought needing to be fulfilled. What about you? Think about that. You know, we’re in an age of instant gratification, just like that. We have our smartphones, we have social media, and if we don’t get 150 likes within 30 minutes after posting something to our Facebook page or whatever, we feel like we haven’t succeeded, nobody loves us. And we have to get that text. We have to get that email, and if we don’t, again, we’re not…something’s not stimulated within us. We’ve done this to ourselves. The culture has done that and the instant gratification to where we realize or think that we don’t have to really put something into something to really get a solid lasting return. And that when it comes to faith, when it comes to God and church maybe the question for us all to consider, and so what have you brought?

Now, this doesn’t negate the fact that maybe truth needs to be in your church. Maybe your church isn’t really worshiping God in spirit and in truth according to biblical standards. That’s another issue altogether, but let’s just start with ourselves. In Psalm 63 there’s a very interesting passage and the Psalmist talks about his desire as he comes before God. Let me read a few verses. It says, “Oh God, you are my God. Early will I seek you.” Early. First thing, priority. “My soul thirsts for you.” Just like we need a cool drink of water on a hot day we also need God every day and we need to quench that thirst, that spiritual thirst that we have. “My flesh,” it says, “longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” Our culture today and our world today is too often barren and dry, creating that spiritual thirst that only God can fulfill. He goes on, “So, I’ve looked for you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory because your loving kindness is better than life. My lips shall praise you.”

What is it that you bring to church? What is it that you bring to God? Lot of things to consider about your church, your faith, or even your understanding about God. But perhaps the first thing for us all to consider is, what are we bringing? And when we consider that, then we can accurately tackle the issues of what we’re receiving and whether or not there was truth there, whether or not there is true spiritual food where we may be trying to find the true God. Something to consider if you’re one of those who thinks that I get nothing out of church.”  2 comments  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/what-do-you-bring-to-church

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Update. 

Well, another trip to the Drivers License place, this time I went to Bryan.  I had looked at the link that the other office had told me to check after 5 days and all it said was “sent on to agency” and to call. That didn’t tell me whether it was confirmed or not.  Have you ever tried to call the drivers license place and talk to a people?  A real person doesn't seem to exist in their maze of extensions in their phone lines. 

So I knew I had to drive to one of their offices, and chose Bryan, because my daughter, Wendy lives halfway there.  I drove to College Station and visited Wendy, and even though she had hurt her ankle, she went with me.  There wasn’t a long wait at the Bryan office, at least it was a large place and everyone was inside in the AC.  There I found out the problem in getting my ‘green card’ confirmed.  My old license had my maiden name as my middle name whereas my green card has my real middle name. The boss lady there said she would call me when it was confirmed. 

This week, I had intended to spend some time making trips to Willis to try to empty my storage unit there.  The weather forecast stopped that, but I did venture out to the grocery store and then down came a deluge.  I couldn’t get back to the apartment the usual way, got lost, stuck in the mud, and the van started having a tapping noise.  Found out that the oil pan is dented and something in the engine is hitting it.  I was told not to drive it, so one of the elders at church came and got me and my neighbor.  I had made some more lentil soup as it was so well received before.

The theme was Isa. 58:11 “Where God guides, He provides”, and the sermon was about being “Comfortable”.  Don’t be comfortable when you are doing nothing to help your fellow man.   We prayed to those affected by the storm in Houston and everywhere.

Fortunately, my next-door neighbor is going to follow me as I carefully drive my van to the well recommended shop on Monday.