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Jesus Christ came into Galilee preaching a powerful message: "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15 ). With this message and the person of Jesus of Nazareth, God was entering history and announcing in clear terms that the Kingdom was here in word and in the person of Jesus, king of that Kingdom.
God was inaugurating a new time in human experience. The message of the coming Kingdom of God, the Kingdom that would replace all earthly realms, was now being made known in the power of the Son of God, Jesus. Those who heard Christ's message needed to receive a new mind and a new heart to fit that spiritual Kingdom.
The time is now for you. That same message given by Jesus Christ is before you. You have the opportunity to accept it and turn your life around. You can begin today to experience the life of the Kingdom. It will renew your life and invigorate you with meaning and purpose. The most important message you could hear is understanding why you were born. The truth of your life's purpose will lift you out of the chaos and confusion we find in today's world.
Look around at our world. You see the same conditions I see, and they should cause us deep concern. A recent Pew survey listed the conditions people were most concerned with. The top four were the surge of ISIS in the Middle East, Iran's nuclear program, cyber-attacks on governments, on banks and on major companies, and the growing economic instability of nations. Territorial aggression by Russia and China were also significantly mentioned. These are all major problems that threaten global stability.
Not mentioned in this survey, but of critical importance, is America's decline in influence and respect among nations. While the United States remains a major economic and military power, events of recent years have eroded an intangible factor the Bible calls "pride of power" (see Leviticus 26:19 ; Ezekiel 30:6 ). America's power is based on moral integrity rooted in the foundation of God's spiritual purpose and plan for humanity.
Spiritually speaking, America has lost its way before the Creator God, and those who have eyes to see know that something is desperately wrong with its moral and spiritual compass. America's moral and political decline reflect a rejection of God's eternal laws governing all parts of life. God is not mocked. A day of judgment is coming. The time is now for America and the English-speaking nations to understand their foundations are cracked and could crumble.
The article "The Battle for God" discusses the prophet Habakkuk and his dialogue with God over the sins of his people. God shows the prophet that He is very much involved with the nations of that day and time. The international turmoil of that ancient period was accomplishing God's purpose and plan. It was not occurring in a vacuum.
After time to consider God's plan to rearrange the primacy of the nations, Habakkuk describes God standing among the nations and taking their measure. He is bringing a judgment on nations that have known His laws and moral teachings and turned their back on them. He is bringing judgment on those who have not kept God in their knowledge (Habakkuk 2:6 ; Habakkuk 2:12 ).
The time is now for you to discern this time, this age and period in which we live, and understand what God is doing among the nations. His purpose is being fulfilled according to plan, His Kingdom is coming, and you can prepare your life in advance. You can experience today the blessings and peace of that coming age!
The time is now for you to examine your faith and begin to live it. You may be concerned about the condition of today's world -- as we all should be -- but you don't have to live with fear and confusion about what will happen. You can live by faith, the living faith of God the Father and Jesus Christ. That true faith will help you live with confidence that God exists and can be involved in your life!
The choice is before you. Carefully read and consider what God offers you as described in the articles in this issue of The Good News. The message Jesus Christ preached about His coming Kingdom is always relevant and always at hand to give understanding and hope. Now is the time for you to seize this coming Kingdom and let it change your life!
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Keywords: coming age God's judgment God's kingdom turn your life
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