THE THREE UNDENIABLE MESSAGES BEHIND THE SHAKING OF THE WORLD
The present world as we watch it is undergoing shakings. Governments who are previously unmovable were trembling. Kings and Rulers who are untouchable in the past are being removed from their glorious palaces. Aside from unrest from different parts of the world, earthquakes and Tsunamis are getting stronger. It is time to read the signs of the time and check the historical map. Where are we, according to God’s master plan?
Shaking of the earth is not something that a bible reader should be surprised with. The bible recorded that it had already happened and predicted that it will happen again.
Heb 12:26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."
Heb 12:27 This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
Heb 12:28 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Paul, the Author of the book of Hebrew summarized the above text from the book of Haggai Chapter 2:6-7.
The same book added the following prophecy in preparation for the glorious temple and heavenly kingdom:
“I will overthrow royal thrones, destroying the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and charioteers. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other.” Hag 2:22
Today as I write this sermon, the 30 years regime of Egypt ruler fall and the heat of revolution are spreading to other countries in the Middle East.
The world as it has been shaken once again reminds us of three fundamental truths. And we must heed the divine call less we also be stumbled and shaken.
I. THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT MAY SLIP AWAY
Heb 12:26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."
Lesson 1: No government or a person no matter how powerful they are has the power to remain. The world is changing as it revolves.
The shaking of the world power is not new to history. Daniel chapter two dramatically described it in prophetic way through the dream of the Babylonian king and through it the future transitions of the world powers were revealed.
1. The transition of the world powers explained: Daniel 2: 36-44
You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue-- an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing-floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. Dan 2:31-35
1. The Babylonian Empire by Nebuchadnezzar -The head of Gold
2. The Medo-Persian Empire: by Darius & Cyrus -The arm of Silver
3. The Grecian Empire by Alexader D’ Great -The belly and thighs of bronze
4. The Roman Empire by Caesars -Legs of iron and clay
2. The coming of the Kingdom of Christ the Rock foretold:
Dan 2:44 In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure for ever.
3. Jesus confirmed the Rock which is our Corners Stone:
Mat 21:42 Then Jesus asked them, "Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ’The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.’
Mat 21:44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls."
This present world and government will someday pass away. We have to put our hope and trust to someone who will remain forever. We should build our foundation of Jesus because he is the Rock of our salvation. We should build our foundation on Jesus the Chief corner stone.
Let us put our trust on the one who said: “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.” Mat 24:35
Why? Because: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Heb 13:8
TO HAVE JESUS MEANS VICTORIOUS LIFE!
• Kings and rulers may come and go but Jesus will remain the same
• Friends and family may leave us but Jesus will never forsake us
• Wealth and fame may be temporary but Jesus is forever
• Position and power may slip from our hands but no one can snatch us from God’s hand
• Beauty and looks may fade away but those who are in Jesus will keep the beauty of the heart forever.
• World powers may conquer one another but we are more than conqueror in Christ
• The world may persecute us, detain us or even kill us, but no one can imprison or kill our spirit because we have freedom in Christ and we will emerge victorious in the end with Christ.
II. LIFE AND ITS CONTENTS MAY COME TO AN END
Heb 12:27 This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
Lesson 2: Life on Earth is temporary so we must not live for Earth but for heaven.
A well known author started a book by asking: What on Earth am I here for? If life is temporary and we are all passers by, why are we so concerned about this world rather than preparing for something that will be eternal?
Shaking is not happening in the government and system only. But most importantly, it is happening to us as individual. It has many faces and forms:
• There are shaking in our relationship with God
• There are shaking in our faith
• There are shaking in our church
• There are shaking in our job and business
• There are shaking in our character
• There are shaking in our Christian life
Many times it has been said. The purpose of God is not for our comfort on this Earth but character development. This explains the shakings that is happening in our own life.
• This explain the injustices and harassment
• This explain the poverty
• This explain the problems
• This explain the sickness and bad health
• This explain the questions that we encounter everyday
• This explain the hurt and heart aches
• This explain the hot of the days and the cold of the nights
• This explain the bad guys
We are not comfortable here because we are not of this world. As Christians and Children of God, Our citizenship is in heaven. We are only under training here for character development.
III. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL REMAIN FOREVER
Heb 12:28 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Lesson 3: Relationship with God is the only thing that we can keep forever.
In life we always have choices:
• The temporal things of this world or the eternal life with God?
• The luxury of this life or the joy of heaven with God?
• The praise of men or the approval of God?
• The acceptance of people or the presence of God
• The court with the kings and rulers or the sanctuary of God?
• The safety of your body or the salvation of your soul?
Mat 16:26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?
All things may pass away; the world as we know it may be uprooted; life as we experience it may come to an end; but one thing stands eternally sure--the relationship of the Christian to God.
If you want to have a closer relationship with Jesus, you can pray this prayer and make this your own:
Dear God,
I am now convinced that I cannot manage my own life without you. I am now inviting Jesus to come into my heart today and be the King and Lord of my life from this time on. I surrender my life to you today and I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
