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11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
2011 fades into history as another epochal year. On January 11th, 2011, flooding and mudslides in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, kills 903 people. The long time president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak resigns after widespread protests calling for his departure, leaving the control of Egypt to the military on February 11th. March 11th, the world witnessed a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the east of Japan, killing 15,840 and leaving another 3,926 missing. April 11th reported the former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo arrested in his home in Abidjan by supporters of elected President Alassane Ouattara with support from French forces thereby ending the 2010-2011 Ivorian crisis and civil war. May 1st President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, the founder and leader of the military group Al-Qaeda. On June 4th, Chile's Puyehue volcano erupts, causing air traffic cancellations across South America, New Zealand, Australia and forcing over 3,000 people to evacuate. The list goes on and many other significant events which happened in 2011 will always be a stark reminder of the brevity of life, and the Sovereignty of God.
As we entered 2012, we are once again reminded of these truths: the brevity of life and the Sovereignty of God. Prophet Jeremiah had prophesied to the people of God that they will be punished and will be in exile for seventy years. Seventy years? That’s a long time … a life time for some. However, there was one man by the name of Daniel who lived through these perilous times in exile under the leadership of four pagan kings. Daniel had sound theology. He understood the truth that God is Sovereign over all things and that He is always in control of all situations and every human life and nation. Daniel read Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning his people Israel, and so he went into fasting and prayers for three weeks. “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” (Daniel 10:2-3) Daniel read the Word of God and he kept God’s Word. He knew from the prophecy of Jeremiah that the time of deliverance had come, and so he dutifully went into prayer and fasting to seek the Lord’s deliverance. As Daniel was praying in accordance to God’s will, God answered his prayers! Earlier in Daniel chapter 9, God had given Daniel one of the most important revelation and prophecy to us, namely, the prophecy of the seventy weeks. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Dan. 9:24)
Sixty-nine weeks of this prophecy had accomplished, and we are just waiting upon the Lord for the very last week – the seventieth week (seven years of global great tribulation, the outpouring of God’s wrath upon this sinful world). The Church has been told that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to receive the redeemed unto Himself one day. Christ’s coming is imminent. Will it for today? Will it be 21st December 2012 as many people are anticipating in the light of the Mayan prophecy? We know from the Bible that Christ is coming for sure. God will judge the world with the final seven years of great tribulations. After which, the Lord Jesus Christ will establish the millennium kingdom of 1,000 years on earth where saints will reign with Him. At the end of the millennium age, God will bring everything before the Great White Throne for the final judgment. Those who are the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ in accordance to His redemptive plan will be saved through eternity. But those who are outside Christ will be condemned. Before all these prophecies are fulfilled, we have to continue to be a faithful witness of the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is where we can apply Jeremiah 29:11 to ourselves – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God is always thinking of us. He loves to commune and fellowship with us. His thoughts for us – His children – are always blessed thoughts of peace, and not of evil. Like a loving Father, He always has the best interest for us at heart. He has a plan and a glorious future for us! The Message Bible translates Jeremiah 29:11 this way – “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” While I agree with the front portion of the translation, that God know what He is doing and that He had all things planned out, I don’t quite agree that God has a plan “to give you the future you hope for”! If God is going to give me a future which I hope for, that will be scary! I rather wait upon the Lord’s redemptive plan and let Him reveal my future in accordance to what He hopes for me. God’s plan is perfect, and I rather be brought into His perfect plan for me, and not my own “sinful” plan for myself. I want to seek to glorify God, and not myself.
Let us move forward with this divine expectation that God has a perfect plan for each of us. And ultimately when we learn to live in accordance to His plan, we are safe! May the Gracious Lord Jesus Christ keep us through 2012 and beyond until we see Him face-to-face. Amen.
Here’s wishing everyone a Blessed New Year 2012 in the Lord Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Elder (Dr) Sherman Ong
General Superintendent
Life B-P Church Sunday School
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