Which Light to Follow
The captain of the battleship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance.
Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: ‘Alter your course 10 degrees south.’
Promptly a return message was received: ‘Alter your course 10 degrees north.’
The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: ‘Alter your course 10 degrees south – I am the captain.’
Soon another message was received: ‘Alter your course 10 degrees north – I am a seaman third class.’
Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: ‘Alter your course 10 degrees south – I am a battleship.’
Then the reply came ‘Alter your course 10 degrees north – I am the lighthouse.’
In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives.
Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest – something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12
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God is calling All People Everywhere to Repent
The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. Revelation 16:4-9
God is pouring out the seven bowls of His wrath in an effort to get wicked men to repent and give Him glory. But the best these people can do is curse the name of God. They acknowledge God, but only by cursing Him instead of realizing their sin offends God and so they should repent and give Him the respect He deserves!
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. Romans 11:19-23
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:4-5
God is at work in the world trying to bring all men to repentance. Why? Why not let them go their own way?
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:9-13
I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy
One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. Hosea 11:9
The difference between God and man is God’s unbelievable patience in withholding his wrath and judgment so that we might repent and be saved. God desires all people to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:1-4. There is no salvation without repentance. Luke 13:1-5; 24:46-47; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16; Revelation 2 and 3; 16:1-11.
David Carr