Early Edition
What if you knew beyond a doubt what was going to happen tomorrow? What would you do? There are no easy answers for a guy who gets tomorrows news today.
This is the beginning dialogue of the TV program “Early Edition”. As I was watching a re-run of this program I was reminded of the parallels we face every day. In some ways our dilemma is a little more complicated than the TV character, Gary Hobson, had to face every episode. The tomorrow’s news that we have been privy to usually isn’t as focused on a particular person or incident taking place at a given moment in time. But there are some striking similarities between this TV program and real life that help me illustrate the reality of what Christians are facing in the World today.
We have been given an early edition of what is going to take place. The Scripture gives us a good picture of what each one of us is facing in the future and it is not pretty. We also are given a summary of the history leading up to our present time. Because of historical accuracy of all that is written in this book we can from past history and personal experience, just like Gary, know beyond a doubt that what is predicted for the future will come to pass.
The forecast is for the future, yet we have been given this information today. Why have we been given this information? As Gary soon came to realize, we have been given this information because it is in our power to change the future through our actions today.
To put it in a nutshell, the information in this early edition tells us that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And what does that mean?
“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Eph 5:5-6 NAS)
But this edition also tells us of the mercy of God and the provision He has provided for our salvation from the consequences of God’s wrath.
“”For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.” (Joh 3:16-17 NAS)
So how do we take advantage of this grace that God has provided for us? What does it mean to believe in God’s only begotten Son? The answer to that is given to us in the Book of Acts.
“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Ac 2:37-38 NAS)
I hope that you can see that the Scriptures tell us clearly tell us that because of sin our future destination is separation from God for eternity. But God is revealing this future because He wants to change our future destination by giving us eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. By putting our trust in Jesus Christ we can literally change our future to be a glorious one where we dwell with God for all of eternity.
God has not given us power to change the revealed times and events. For those are things that God has established to fulfill His purpose for mankind. The revelations that have come through His Son Jesus Christ provide us with the opportunity to determine where we as individuals fit into these events. Either we will be with those who share in the plan of God to live in fellowship with Him forever, or we will be recipients of the wrath of God that comes on those who are in rebellion to Him.
Paul speaks of this change in direction that alters our destiny.
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:1-10 NAS)
What if you knew beyond a doubt what was going to happen tomorrow? What would you do? There are no easy answers for a guy who gets tomorrows news today.
We need to take advantage of this early edition that God has given us. I have revealed to you the easy answer for our personal future and how we can change our future destiny by putting our trust in Jesus. The hard question is: How do we alter the future for other people who are destined for an eternity estranged from God? God has provided Salvation for everyone, but every person’s salvation is contingent upon their repentance and trust in Jesus. Although we cannot save anyone ourselves we can be instrumental in sharing the good news presented in the early edition. The grace of God can come through us, that others may have knowledge of this salvation. God’s Word clarifies the choice that stands before every person. We can stand as witnesses encouraging people to choose life. God has unfolded the events of the future before us. We can either be on the train or be run over by it.
I must admit that at times I suffer frustration, much like Gary in the TV program. The frustration comes in our attempts to convince others of the importance of the information that we have obtained. But unlike the TV character, we can know peace by knowing that we have done what God has asked us to do. The greatest part of this whole thing is experiencing joy when we witness others finding salvation as we have.
Thank God for the early edition!
Bob Gunderson