What is the difference between pessimism and realism as it pertains to one's outlook for the coming year 2017? Some would say that you have to look on the positive side and that there's nothing you can do to change what will happen anyway, and some might try to use Bible verses to support that opinion but God's Word tells us to be in a state of constant watchfulness.
My position in these posts has been that if one is not observant, vigilant and aware to begin with then any conclusions drawn will essentially be uneducated opinions and useless if not grossly misleading. Bear with me on this please. How....how can any individual fill their mind up with what are essentially entertainments and then expect to have even what should be normal discernments on the age that we live in? Is the following advice something we would tell our children...."Sure, go ahead and play all that you want. All you need to do is study enough to pass."? But that is what we ourselves are doing, and we're really not even studying enough to pass.
We are living within a paradigm of life whether we like it or not or even if we realize it or not. Sometimes it's called the American Dream. It is totally accepted without any questions asked for one does not question the only thing one has ever known. This is what we have to break out of! Picture a man who has had enough of this society and culture that we live in. He moves to some cabin up in the mountains and purposes to live a simple life and let others continue in the rat race. There are plenty of people just like this. They have broken away from this paradigm of life. Unfortunately there is no spiritual blessings in this for it is a totally secular decision but it does exhibit what I'm alluding to in this post which is identifying a problem and then avoiding its suction-cupped tentacles.
The violence on earth is running totally amok....on the very edge even of nuclear catastrophes? I lived through the Cuban Missile Crises and it wasn't anything compared to what we face today. This one aspect alone should, to any clear thinking individual, cause grave concern. To the Christian it should awaken them and actually cause them to hope for the return of Jesus. Oh, everyone assents to hoping for His return but the evidence of actual desire is scant.
The children should be the key in all of this. As bad as this world was in the previous century at least the children in Western societies had an opportunity to be taught about their Creator and their Redeemer. That opportunity is fading fast even in what should be the most Christian nation on this earth. Will God permit us to go on like this? I for one do not think so! What am I missing here? Is this not simple logic after reading about God's dealing with Israel and Judah?
What does the evidence show on how we are taking all this in? It shows that we haven't a clue and more than that it shows that we really don't seem to care. Paradigm paralysis has set in and hardened. Our minds are confused as to what is going on and we have determined not to enter into the murky investigative processes of God's Word as it relates to times just like this. What that really boils down to is that we don't trust that God will clear up the murkiness....but He will....and He has....but one has to want to see. Are these times no worse than other ages? If that's your mantra....go for it....but perspiratory prayer is what is needed and positive thinking does not tend to stimulate the sweat glands.
So what am I....a pessimist.... by dwelling on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? In my mind the time is short where ten year old girls will be used as human bombs, where genocides pop up as commonly as measles outbreaks, and where children, even our children, are taught that God is a myth. Are we not to be a peculiar people? OK...you roll your eyes....for I seem peculiar to you... but is not even that giving credence to my point? A horror film is being played out upon the earth. Come Lord Jesus, but if Thee are to tarry..... keep us waiting and working and hoping for Thy return...for as in all prophesies of Thy Word..."If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Habakkuk 2:3
My position in these posts has been that if one is not observant, vigilant and aware to begin with then any conclusions drawn will essentially be uneducated opinions and useless if not grossly misleading. Bear with me on this please. How....how can any individual fill their mind up with what are essentially entertainments and then expect to have even what should be normal discernments on the age that we live in? Is the following advice something we would tell our children...."Sure, go ahead and play all that you want. All you need to do is study enough to pass."? But that is what we ourselves are doing, and we're really not even studying enough to pass.
We are living within a paradigm of life whether we like it or not or even if we realize it or not. Sometimes it's called the American Dream. It is totally accepted without any questions asked for one does not question the only thing one has ever known. This is what we have to break out of! Picture a man who has had enough of this society and culture that we live in. He moves to some cabin up in the mountains and purposes to live a simple life and let others continue in the rat race. There are plenty of people just like this. They have broken away from this paradigm of life. Unfortunately there is no spiritual blessings in this for it is a totally secular decision but it does exhibit what I'm alluding to in this post which is identifying a problem and then avoiding its suction-cupped tentacles.
The violence on earth is running totally amok....on the very edge even of nuclear catastrophes? I lived through the Cuban Missile Crises and it wasn't anything compared to what we face today. This one aspect alone should, to any clear thinking individual, cause grave concern. To the Christian it should awaken them and actually cause them to hope for the return of Jesus. Oh, everyone assents to hoping for His return but the evidence of actual desire is scant.
The children should be the key in all of this. As bad as this world was in the previous century at least the children in Western societies had an opportunity to be taught about their Creator and their Redeemer. That opportunity is fading fast even in what should be the most Christian nation on this earth. Will God permit us to go on like this? I for one do not think so! What am I missing here? Is this not simple logic after reading about God's dealing with Israel and Judah?
What does the evidence show on how we are taking all this in? It shows that we haven't a clue and more than that it shows that we really don't seem to care. Paradigm paralysis has set in and hardened. Our minds are confused as to what is going on and we have determined not to enter into the murky investigative processes of God's Word as it relates to times just like this. What that really boils down to is that we don't trust that God will clear up the murkiness....but He will....and He has....but one has to want to see. Are these times no worse than other ages? If that's your mantra....go for it....but perspiratory prayer is what is needed and positive thinking does not tend to stimulate the sweat glands.
So what am I....a pessimist.... by dwelling on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? In my mind the time is short where ten year old girls will be used as human bombs, where genocides pop up as commonly as measles outbreaks, and where children, even our children, are taught that God is a myth. Are we not to be a peculiar people? OK...you roll your eyes....for I seem peculiar to you... but is not even that giving credence to my point? A horror film is being played out upon the earth. Come Lord Jesus, but if Thee are to tarry..... keep us waiting and working and hoping for Thy return...for as in all prophesies of Thy Word..."If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Habakkuk 2:3
