First of all, I would like to wish each of you a
very spiritually fulfilling new year ... As times continue to march
ever closer to our Lord's soon return, we know that more intense and
terrifying times are in store for this new year we are now entering
into. ... My prayer for each of you is that you will put on the "full
armor of God" spoken of in Ephesians 6 so you will be able to withstand
all that is about to come upon this unsuspecting world ... a time of
terror no one can begin to imagine ... a time no one will be able to
survive ... unless they have the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
So what exactly is in store for this incoming new
year? ... I thought maybe I would share some strong possibilities of
what 'may' occur ... After all, don't many of our Christian colleagues
share their annual 'prophecies'? ... One after another, these 'charlatans'
& false prophets put out their poison .... and sadly, many searching
souls buy into this nonsense, only to be disappointed in the end because
the vast majority of these prognostications are purely speculation and
wishful thinking, most of which having nothing to do with the truths
of God or the leading of the Holy Spirit.
But I kept thinking ... here I am, involved in a
'prophecy' news website ... I study and read about it all the time ...
I live & breath this stuff with each waking moment ... so who better
to spout some prognostications & predictions!
.... But I just couldn't bring myself to the point
of falling into the category of one of these 'self-proclaimed annual
prophecy guys' previously diagnosed. ... O what to do? .... Isn't everyone
expecting something along these lines, especially from a website like
this? ................
But then God ... being who He is in all things ...
gave me the answer to my self-imposed dilemma.
........ I was sitting in Church yesterday ... actually
contemplating this issue ... when my Pastor, Ken Bjorge, stated that
he was going to give his "10 Promises for 2013." ... Now first
of all, this is different! ... These weren't 'hoped-for' prophecies
but actual promises! ... Needless to say, he had my undivided attention!
(he mostly does anyway) ......
The following is this list of promises:
1 - God will still be on His throne
(Psalm 45:6)
2 - Jesus will still be King of Kings
and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)
3 - The Bible will still have all the
answers to every problem (Hebrews 4:12)
4 - The tomb will still be empty (Luke
24:6)
5 - Jesus will still be the ONLY way
to Heaven (John 14:6)
6 - Prayer will still work ... it will
still make a difference and God will still answer prayer (James 5:16)
7 - The Cross, not the government,
will still be our salvation (Colossians 2:14-15)
8 - There will still be room at the
Cross (Colossians 1:19-20)
9 - Jesus will still save anyone who
places their faith in Him (Acts 16:31)
10- God will still be with us always ...
He will NEVER leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5 &
Deuteronomy 13:5)
Wow! .... Here I was, focusing on all the
'other' stuff ... thinking what I should be doing to at least fulfill
what I thought people may want to hear ... and my Pastor lays it out
... simple ... truthful ... hopeful ... all the things that matter!
.....
My lesson here? ... Focus on the things that we
know are true ... things we know we can count on ... instead of all
that 'other' junk that just clutters up the landscape of Biblical truth.
...
As we move on into this new year, please let Mary
& I know what you are thinking ... what your are troubled by ...
questions that you may have concerning all that is going on all around
us. ... Our whole intent and purpose here at "Light in the Darkness"
is to do our best in bringing the issues of the day to the forefront
as it relates to the Bible ... and to the ultimate hope the Bible brings
concerning all things.
And finally, please continue to send our site on
to your family, friends & neighbors. ... we've grown much this year
& it's because of you sharing our efforts with others .... Thank
you so much for that!
Also, if you live in the general area of Newberg,
my 'End-Times' teaching class will resume on Tuesday, January 8th, 6:45
PM at Chehalem Valley Baptist Church. ... As of right now, we
are studying the Book of Revelation and are in just the beginning stages
of it. .... Any further questions on this study, or anything else for
that matter, just contact Mary or myself here at the site .............................
hewillbeback.org.
Until next time,
Red