Steve Nelson: Where we fit in history

By Steve Nelson

The problem and solution: Most of the world is confused about the future, and Christians are sometimes the most ignorant on this, due to misinformation. For your blessing and understanding, this article will shed light on this exaggerated and over-analyzed subject of popular controversy. We can discover what the truth is, not by watching Hollywood movies about “apocalyptic events,” nor by reading top-selling fantasy books about the “end times,” nor by listening to the next smooth-talking preachers who give us their two cents about when they guess Jesus is coming back. Scripture exclusively is how to know the truth accurately. (“Every word of God is pure...” – Proverbs 30:5)

A running head start... The Olympic Games will occur July 23 – August 8, 2021. In light of this legendary sporting event, let’s begin our discussion of time here. The pinnacle of sports achievement is earning a gold medal, and in doing so get your name etched in stone, preserved as a champion. Suppose you are a runner, about to race in the marathon. Once your race begins, what will you think about? Do you dwell upon the previous race? No!! (Philippians 3:13 says to “forget what lies behind.”) Or do you worry about the next race? No!! (Matthew 6:34 tells us “don’t worry about tomorrow.”) Think about the race going on right now.

the present. To aid your performance during the long race, you might recall on occasion the successful tactics of previous runners (just like Christians do in looking at Old Testament believers). Also during the race, you might gain motivation as you imagine yourself inspiring future runners (just like Christians look forward to the ultimate future ahead when evil is defeated once and for all). Yet thoughts of the past and future are few in comparison to the many thoughts of the present. The race right now requires our urgent and diligent attention! We must adjust to the other competitors constantly, minute by minute and sometimes second by second. Also affecting our speed and endurance, we consider other dynamic factors: terrain, temperature, wind, hydration, energy and many other physical and mental conditions. (The marathon current world record is 2 hours, 1 minute, 39 seconds.)

tracted about the future is the will of Satan. To overlook the past completely would cause us to be ignorant. To ignore the future completely would cause us to wander aimlessly. So we keep those things in proper measure. Just like a runner, each human being could and should spend a majority of their focus, energy and effort on the PRESENT. Since this is true, then why are so many Christians distracted, consumed with tunnel vision on the future? This is because Satan prefers this distraction of converting us into fortune tellers and predictors of future events, instead of us Christians focusing on our top priority, being “witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth” RIGHT NOW. We need to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ about God’s power – it’s available to anyone, RIGHT NOW.

The race we run is the most important to us. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to run “the race set before US,” not the race of others in the future. As Christians, we will not be around when Revelation commences anyway, so why fuss about it? Now consider this in the context of studying Scripture. Why not study those things most importantly that relate to us right

now? Study the New Testament writings about the time in which we live now, before we try to master the next age, which we will not be a part of anyway. Enjoy studying Revelation, but do so in balance, not as our primary emphasis.

1. God alone created the heavens and the earth, including humans. In need of redemption, God said we would be rescued some day from our sins, from death, from evil. It took 4,000 years until the Christ was born, with a fantastic history of God’s people recorded for our learning. 2. In just over 30 years, Jesus lived and sacrificed Himself to save us, then was raised from the dead, is still alive in Heaven right now 2,000 years later, coming back at some point in time in the future. Only God knows the timing of that epic event when He will send His Son Jesus back for us (Acts 1:7 and 1:11). 3. As a result of Jesus Christ’s victory over death, many new things opened up for people, including the potential to get saved and become a child of God. Starting on Pentecost, it was first available to become “born again.” This AGE OF GRACE still continues to this day and will not conclude until Christ’s return. Nor will the AGE OF WRATH begin a second before grace is gone. 4. Before us believers are taken to Heaven by Jesus, we are lights in this world, pushing back darkness. Only when the

believers leave this planet will the “wrath” of Satan commence and the book of Revelation will start to unfold. Romans 5:9 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 document that believers alive now will not have to endure this future wrath. 5. The phrase “end times” does not occur in the Bible. Suggestion: stop using it. Overall, stop listening to people who dwell on the future, emphasize it, make predictions about it, or spend their focus on trying to interpret it, as Steve Nelson if we need to know more about dating future events than about what is going on right now. Friends, let’s wise up about this subtle distraction by Satan. Conclusion: Just like a marathon runner, we focus on our own race. We can’t run races for others, even if we think about them periodically. Understand first the age we live in now, before we try to master understanding the next age which has not even begun yet. Let’s understand where we fit in history. God bless you! n Steve Nelson has been a Bible teacher for over 25 years. This article comes from “Book of Revelation Hype” Segment 75 of “CORE,” a course for families on how to read and understand the Bible. See T4FAMILYCENTER.COM or reach Steve at T4FamilyCenter@gmail.com.

Design of the Space-time Universe

By Gerald Paul Kooyers Four Functional Realms

One of the more intriguing often repeated themes of the Christian Scriptures is the quantity of four: • 4 types of trees in Garden of Eden • 1 river becomes 4 to water the 4 trees • 4 beasts in the prophecy of Daniel • 4 creatures w/4 faces in Ezekiel’s vision of God • 4 horses/ 4 chariots in Zechariah’s vision • 4 living creatures surround

Throne of God in Revelation • 4 Horsemen • 4 Messengers of Destiny

An interesting read - For those seeking a scientific discussion of Christianity

A book for those seeking to understand how the universe is designed; what makes man tick; how to have an eternal life of peace, fragrance, & beauty, this is a very valuable read. Available at: Amazon.com • Alibris.com Bookfinder.com Your Favorite Bookstore Paperback: $9.98 • Kindle: $0.99

By Joan Endicott

Crisis creates clarity. There is nothing like staring your own mortality in the face to remind you of what truly matters in this life and what absolutely does not!

I was a happy camper on the sunny Saturday afternoon of July 28, 2018. I had just left my favorite fruit stand with a brimming box of freshly picked peaches, red and green peppers, sweet corn-on-the-cob and vine-ripened tomatoes. Now only three miles from home with my sunroof open singing along to praise tunes on the radio – all the ingredients for another one of those best days ever in this girl’s book!

Then something shifted significantly.

Though my vision was still clear, there was an odd prism effect in the lower right corner of my visual frame – like a kaleidoscope. Having never experienced this before, I alternated closing each eye to see if it was only one specific eye – it was the same effect for both. Since I was driving and wanted to make sure it was safe for all, I called Mark (hands-free) and told him where I was so that if I needed to pull over, he could come and get me. We talked until I got home.

Mark met me when I drove in and by that time my head was pounding in pain. I immediately laid on the couch while he brought an ice pack for my head. Our fully-windowed living room is normally a favorite place, but the light made my head hurt even worse, so I moved into our bedroom with the blackout curtains drawn. He brought me pain relievers and another ice pack so I could have one on the front and one on the back of my head. After a while there was still no relief, so I called out for Mark and he came in and sat on the edge of the bed next to me. Now almost in tears and my thinking confused, I tried to say something, but no actual words came out. It just sounded like babble – nothing was coherent. Fear gripped me and I grabbed Mark and looked into his eyes and tried again. What came out next was louder and more panicked, but still no actual words. Now I was terrified. Mark’s eyes revealed his fear as well, as he said, “I’m calling 911!”

“Is this it, Lord? Am I dying?”

As Mark was answering the 911 dispatcher’s questions, I felt God’s prompt. “Joan, just go – you’re only three minutes from the hospital. Just go now!” Then I felt an actual physical force guiding me up out of bed as Mark came alongside me. I heard him tell the dispatcher, “I guess we’re going to the hospital… yes, cancel the ambulance.” (I genuinely believe had you been in our room in that moment, you would have seen angel’s wings.)

Walking through the house to the car, I cried out, “Jesus help me. Jesus help me. Jesus help me.” I knew as my soul was crying out, even if no one else could understand me, the God of the universe did.

Arriving at the Emergency Room, the tests began and a specialist from Denver was called. He was on the screen at the end of my bed, asking us questions and taking me through a series of tests.

Then the doctor asked, “Have you had a lot of stress lately?”

The thing that immediately came to mind was the full-on

rejection from a loved one almost a year prior. That was the one and only thing that came to mind. As I looked at my beloved husband standing at the end of the bed, I realized I was there because I had been too stressed about what another broken human thought of me. I immediately and emphatically declared in my soul, “OH, HELL NO! This is too high of price and I’m not paying it anymore.” Worrying and stressing about another’s opinion of me must stop now! This is when I started diving deep into understanding and practicing self-compassion. Remember what a game-changer that was for me? Joan Endicott God sightings! Later that night in the ICU, as Mark and I compared notes, I asked if my words in my prayerful plea were understandable: “Jesus help me. Jesus help me. Jesus help me!” He enthusiastically responded, “Crystal clear! That was crystal clear.” We also compared notes on the assistance we both felt as I was getting up and out of bed. He too felt that wonderful power beyond our own. Tears fill my eyes even now as they did that night, my soul flooding with gratitude at the invaluable gift of once again experiencing the incredible power in the name of Jesus. I’m grateful God never wastes our pain, tears or heartaches. Without question this severed relationship has been one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. But we can always find God’s beautiful gifts wrapped in struggle paper and this is certainly no exception. So, what was happening with me? At first doctors suspected a stroke and gave me an anticoagulant. Once this medicine is given through IV, the patient needs to be in Intensive Care for at least 24 hours under close supervision. With the very extensive testing the doctors did, they concluded that it was not a stroke, rather their best guess was a TIA (transient ischemic attack). As is normal with any trauma, it takes time, various therapies, and proven tools to help us heal so we can move through and move on. Although my brain trauma, which one doctor described as a “bruised brain,” took much longer to mend than I could have imagined, I am exploding with gratitude that I am physically healthy and well. Additionally, the spiritual, emotional and relationship lessons I’ve learned are more precious than gold. That day I received some beautiful gifts – all wrapped in struggle paper. Life Lessons we get to learn: 1. Do what you can to be at peace with others (Romans 12:18). Then give it to God. 2. Create and maintain healthy boundaries. 3. Pleasing others should never be your goal. 4. Control the controllables in your life. 5. Stop trying to please the “unpleasables.” Some people will not like you no matter what. (Yep, it’s shocking!) Remember, even Mother Teresa had critics.

6. Every moment of every day, you get to choose how you will use your time and energy. (Waste it on temporal or invest it in eternal.) 7. Get clarity on what God calls you to and stay focused on that.

I appreciate Eleanor Roosevelt’s wisdom: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” The same is true for how we feel and respond to anything in life: criticism, judgment, shaming, unfair treatment, or false accusations. We can never control what others think, say or do. God gave each of us a free will. The great news is, you are only responsible for how you live your life – no one else’s. God will never hold you accountable for the attitudes or actions of your family, friends, or associates. It’s your heart He yearns for.

Your power lies in how you respond – which, by His grace, is always your choice and within your power. When it feels impossible, remember, He’s right there ready to put His Super on your natural.

“You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” — St. Augustine, Confessions. n Joan Endicott is an Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, Author of “I Get To!”® ,,founder of GIANT-Slayer Coaching and “WOW!” Women Owning Their Worth© . Her coaching reaches over 30 countries. Meet her and get her FREE videos, book excerpts and content at JoanEndicott.com. Follow her on Instagram – she posts encouraging words daily!

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