.
Are we living in:
- Garden of Eden (a paradise)
- Millennium (1,000 years) Reign of Christ
- New Heaven and New Earth
- None of the above
None of the above.
Our present world is the result of sin.
We have cancer and illness; loss of jobs; loss of homes; wars; crime; broken homes; corruption; poverty; accidents; weather disasters ... to mention a few.
In this world, we are in a battle -- a spiritual battle. The enemy of our souls is seeking to deceive us, trip us up, and cause havoc.
If we aren't Christians, he seeks to keep us from repenting and turning to Christ.
If we are Christians, he seeks to destroy our joy and our witness.
How can we battle such a fierce enemy?
We cannot without the help of Jesus.
Pray without ceasing. Pray for everything.
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I like this very much Carole as it shows the true position of the world and us in it. It reminds us that we are in the world but not part of it our affections are now to our Lord Jesus Christ and looking to Heaven. We know that the Lord is mighty in battle on our behalf infact the word says that he is for us and that is such a marvelous thing. The Lord of host for us that one who is high and lofty and Almighty is for us YES he is.
I had been reading The Shall nots an article from the Institue for Creation Reserach which is much in the same theme as yours above.
The 'Shall Not's' of John's Gospel
May 4, 2011
"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)
There are many wonderful promises to the believer listed in the Gospel of John. Many of these promises are things which "shall" happen, but let us consider seven of these which teach of things which "shall not" happen to the believer whose trust is in Christ.
Teaching of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christ said, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (4:14).
Similarly, "Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (6:35).
Furthermore, He taught: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (8:12). Our deepest needs are met in Him.
Having once believed, we are placed into His family and He promises, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (10:28). In Him, we are utterly secure. Why? "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (5:24).
Consequently, we have no fear of death. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (11:25-26).
As the familiar verse in our text tells us, if we only believe "that he gave his only begotten Son," we shall "not perish, but have everlasting life." JDM