IN TIMES LIKE THESE
Text-Matthew 5:13-16
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have
lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it
is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven."
Introduction-
How are we to respond to the times in which
we live?
-in times like these, when every day we wonder if
there is going to be another terrorist attack or
not
-in times like these, when our culture is becoming
more and more anti-Christian
-in times like these, when there are school shoot-
ings, and violence mentioned on the news almost
every day
-in times like these, when if you are married to
one person, and live with your first mate and
and are faithful, and your children are not in
trouble you are an oddity
-in times like these, when our economy seems to be
collapsing, and fear of a major depression looms
on the horizon of economic uncertainty
I. First of all, WE CAN SHARE OUR FAITH WITH A PER-
PLEXED WORLD.
Many people do not seem to understand how all this
could have happened to America. As more and more
violence occurs, and our confidence is shaken, we
will see more Americans than ever despairing and
afraid. As believers in Jesus Christ, we know
who is in control. We know that we live in peri-
lous times, but we also know that whatever occurs,
Jesus is with us. If He chooses to do so, He can
deliver us from all harm. If He does not, He can
grant us the grace and courage we need to face
whatever may occur.
You can bank on it that there will be more terror-
ist attacks, and wars and rumors of wars, but do
you know what Jesus told His disciples? He said-
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see
that ye be not troubled: for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Vs. 8-All these are the beginning of sorrows...
(Matthew 24:6-7) The stage is being set for the
coming of the Anti-Christ, and the Great Tribu-
lation. Be ready, and escape it. Trust in Christ.
We can be what God intended us to be-the light of
the world, and the salt of the earth. Many people
may wonder into our chuches seeking comfort and
answers to the perplexities of our times.
II.Secondly, WE CAN BRING HOPE TO A BEWILDERED WORLD.
Christ is our Hope, and in Him, we have peace. We
need to tell the world that there is security in
a relationship with Christ, and nowhere else. All
else may crumble and fall, but He will be faithful.
In the tragedy of September the 11th, many of our
country’s citizens were placed in dire circum-
stances. Familys grieved over the loss of loved
ones. Financial adversity fell upon many. Fear
and anger gripped many hearts.
The Psalmist said in Ps. 81:2 & 7
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress; my God; in him will I trust. A thou-
sand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at
thy right hand; but it shall not come neigh thee."
III.Thirdly, WE CAN SHARE LOVE WITH A LONELY WORLD.
What a golden opportune time for us to be the
people we ought to be. Let’s not fail the world,
or our Lord. Let’s be the light and the salt
of our society.
There are many in our nation who I’m afraid have
never really been loved. They haven’t been en-
couraged, or hugged, or given a chance. We need
to reach out to them in the name of Christ.
Haven’t you noticed, that most of the kids that
get involved in violence and other anti-cultural
rebellion come from broken homes, where they
never were really loved, where the ways of God
were not taught?
IV. Fourthly, WE CAN SHARE GOD’S TRUTH WITH A WORLD
THAT IS BEING FED A PACK OF LIES.
God’s Word is true, and it will stand the test
of time, and overcome all it’s opponants.
Our kids are being taught in some places that
they are only the product of evolutionary chance.
Therefore, they do not know who they really are-
creations of God. They are being made to believe
by our culture that sexual immorality is accept-
able, yet, they do not know that their bodies are
to be a temple of God, consecrated to His use,
not immorality. They have seen national leaders
set bad examples, and "beat the system," seeming
to get away with doing wrong, yet, they do not
seem to know that we shall all stand before a
just and holy God, and give account of the lives
that we have lived on this earth.
Everywhere kids look today there is sex and
violence, from the movies to their Nintendo games.
And, we wonder why some of them turn out the way
they do. God help us, and grant us repentance
and revival.
