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The Bible is a book of beginnings and endings.
It has its firsts and lasts. Genesis, the first book, means
"beginnings." In it is the beginning of the heavens and
the earth (Gen.1:1), the first of everything on earth, including
mankind. There was a first command, a first temptation, a first
sin, a first punishment. There was the first child and the first
murder.
The Bible is also a book of endings. The scriptures deal with the
thousands of years that begin with creation and end with life
ceasing on earth. Everything falls between two eternities.
If one could stand at the first day of creation and look back he
would see an unending eternity. Were he permitted to stand at the
final day of this world's existence and look forward he would see
an unending eternity before him.
What happens between the first and last makes up the history of
mankind.
We are living in the Christian age. No one knows how long it will
continue, although it will certainly come to an end sometime.
The earliest age in scripture, called the Patriarchal age,
extended from Adam to Moses. Our current age, called the Christian
age, began with Christ and extends to the present. As the
earliest age was a period of beginnings, so the Christian age has
a number of endings, or final things. Those who lived in the
Patriarchal age could look forward to later developments, as the
prophets announced they could. When we think of the future
we come to realize after the church age is eternity, when the
kingdom will be delivered up to the Father (1Cor.15:24), when the
world and its elements will melt with fervent heat and time as it
is currently reckoned will be no more (2Pet.3:10).
This is not to suggest we have been given a sad situation - far
from it.
We live in the greatest period of all, at the end of the
development of God's scheme of redemption, when we are humanity
from the beginning.
As Adam lived in the starlight age and David in the moonlight age,
we live in the sunlight age when Jesus brings light and
immortality to light through the gospel (2Tim.1:10).
The very fact humanity has been given the full revelation suggests
we have come to at least one end al- ready - the end of new
revelation. But who is to say this is a disadvantage?
One thing it does for us - it makes us face up to the fact we must
make a choice. We accept what God offers or we reject it. We
accept it and receive the benefits or we reject it and suffer the
consequences.
We do not expect Him to make a better offer sometime later on. His
final offer has been made. There is something special about
living in the last age. We may not personally live to the end of
it, but it is certain there is not another age to follow, that is,
in this world.
The provisions God has made and the conditions of His blessings
and promises are complete and unchangeable. The New
Testament, in a very real sense, contains God's final
communication to us.
It involves:
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The Savior
made His last appearance on earth.
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He made His
last and final sacrifice (Heb. 10:12).
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He extended
His final invitation.
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The faith has
been once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
As this age comes
to a close there will be:
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A final day
when the world, as we know it, will end (2Pet.3:10).
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A last trump
will sound (1Cor.15:52).
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There will be
a final moment when the living will be changed (1Cor.15:51).
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When events
on that last day begin the door of opportunity will close
forever (Heb.9:27).
Those who do not
live till the last day will still have a last year and last day, a
last hour and even a last moment. There will be a time when
they will say their last words and breathe their last breath.
We need not ask ourselves if these things will happen. They
will! The question we should consider should be whether or
not we will be ready when the time comes.
The only way to be sure is to make preparation now. We must
take time to think seriously about these things. We live in
the days of the greatest blessings heavy offers. We can't afford
to lose them by inattention or unconcern.
May God bless us as we strive to learn His will and do it.
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