Dear friends:

“Giving thanks unto the Father… Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:12-13).

There are only two kinds of people on the earth: (1) those who are under the power of darkness, and (2) those who have been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son.

In reverse order, for that second group, there are immeasurable benefits.  Here are a few:

1.  They have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

2.  Their sins are forgiven (Ephesians 4:32).

3.  They have that “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).

4.  They abide under the shadow of the Almighty, no evil shall befall them, the Lord delivers them, and angels watch over them (Psalm 91).

And on and on.  The list is virtually endless.

But that first group really has problems.  They are stalked and threatened by death, eternally and in this world. Consider the dangers of these unprecedented times: 

NEVER BEFORE in history, until this generation, has there been a single weapon that could destroy a whole city.

NEVER BEFORE, until the recent years of this same generation, have such weapons been in, or close to being in, the hands of crazed fanatics who want to destroy themselves and everybody else, and who have announced their clear intention to destroy us.  Just one of those weapons, properly placed, could destroy millions of people and the whole national economy.  The threat is imminent.

NEVER BEFORE has such an enemy transcended national borders where such an attack would not be traceable to a specific nation on which to retaliate.  The threat is imminent.

NEVER BEFORE in history have hoards such enemies poured across our borders, virtually unhindered, thanks to weak-willed politicians, to be in position to accomplish such destruction. The threat is imminent.

NEVER BEFORE in history has political correctness been such a paralyzing force, preventing officials from protecting the populace for fear of criticism.

NEVER BEFORE in war has our military been so constrained by “cultural considerations” and fear of collateral damage, endangering themselves and hindering victory.

NEVER BEFORE has the American body politic been so divided, with one side constantly providing aid and comfort to the enemy for their own political gain, virtually ready to surrender to those who have vowed to kill us, demoralizing those whose job it is to protect us.  Unbelievably, they even want to give U.S. citizens’ constitutional rights to foreign terrorists who blow up and slit the throats of our people.

NEVER BEFORE have the above weapons been a threat to the survival of Israel, as they are now. The threat is imminent.

NEVER BEFORE has the world been so close to such destruction  and chaos.

The stark contrast above between the first group and the second group is why the apostle Paul could say, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice… The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:4-5).

Let us pray for the lost, but at the same time rejoice!  The Lord is at hand.

Jim