THE WORLD'S RESPONSE TO THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED NOTRE DAME!
Earlier this month, regularly scheduled television programming was interrupted for breaking news: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was being destroyed by fire. The iconic centuries old symbol of the Roman Catholic Church in France, was in ruins! Speculation suggested that the on-going construction project to repair structural issues may have caused the fire, but there were rumors that a vehicle was parked a few blocks away, which contained several empty gasoline containers. As of this post, the actual cause has yet to be determined.
French government officials from the top down to the "man on the street," mourned the tragedy and vowed that the cathedral would be rebuilt. Billionaires were reported to have pledged seven hundred million dollars, with thousands of donations arriving every day to add to the count. Condolences are still being received from people all over the world; many of whom are not Roman Catholics.
WHY SO MUCH "WEEPING" OVER ONE STRUCTURE, WHEN THOUSANDS
OF "LESSER IMPORTANT" CHURCHES ARE UNDER ATTACK?
The sad thing is, until this event occurred, little, if anything, was said by the media of the hundreds of church fires all over France in the last year! All denominations of Christianity had experienced vandalism, and many lost building to fire. Where was the media? Where was the outrage? Where were the billionaires for the smaller, local churches?
In America, dozens of Black Churches have been vandalized, set on fire, and some have even experienced the loss of life due to gunmen killing members indiscriminately! Many churches have hired off-duty police officers to protect their members during services. Where is the outcry by the media; of course, they report the events the day they occur, but within a few days, the story is "old news."
Persecution of Christians is a daily experience in many nations in Europe, Asia, Africa. Perhaps the worst examples of the horrific treatment of Christians has been the congregations being trapped within their churches, and the building being burned to the ground with them inside! Mass graves are not uncommon. Believers being raped, enslaved, and murdered are the norm in the Islamic nations. Many of those who have not participated in the terroristic actions of their countrymen, applaud and celebrate their success. 911 is a perfect example; the families of the terrorists who were responsible for the hijackings and deaths of thousands, were paid thousands of dollars as a reward! Ironically, many of those same nations receive millions, or billions of dollars in what should be call "an attempted bribe for peace!" It ain't workin'!
THE BIBLE COMFORTS BELIEVERS AS THE END APPROACHES!
John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those believers who have died, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who died believing in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
ROMANS 8:14-18
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
MARANATHA! COME LORD JESUS!
No comments:
Post a Comment