We are living in dangerous times. Many today sense an approaching world crisis. A nervous, jittery stock market; a growing sense of cynicism and distrust of the political process; an increase in drug and alcohol dependency, with the resultant physical and mental toll in human lives; scientists tinkering with our genetic makeup and actually developing a business of selling fetal tissues- all these portend a frightening crisis looming on the horizon of our times. Add to this the familiar threat of AIDS, the spread of famine in many countries, and of course, the ever-present threat of nuclear warfare, and it is clear that something terrible is about to happen. We are living in a world in chaos.

All this tells us that the survival of this planet necessitates new forms of thinking that will lead to a fundamental revision of human behaviour and , by implication, of the entire fabric of present-day society. That simply means that if we cannot discover how to change people, there is no hope for saving the world from ultimate collapse. In the immortal words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." There is no way out unless society can find a means of fundamentally changing human beings.

Right here is the hope of this letter's message. The gospel changes men and women. Paul's letter to the young church at Thessalonica were written because the people there had found, in the good news about Jesus, a way to be changed. The focus and purpose of their lives had obviously been drastically altered.

The Work of Faith
"They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." That is faith at work. Faith is not merely belief; faith works. It has the power to change. Faith enables us to turn from what is wrong to what is right, from dark and hurtful things to bright and helpful things, from the worship of idols to the worship of God. What happens is that you discover something of the beauty, the glory, and the greatness of God; and seeing that and wanting it, you are willing to forsake the cheap and tawdry things you once believed could satisfy.

The answer to idolatry begins with an acceptance of God's love. Everything starts there. Alluring philosophies have throttled our love and captivated and gripped our minds. Almost in total ignorance we pursue the things that destroy us. Most of us have already seriously messed up our lives. Bu then we learn the incredible truth that despite our failures God loves us, and that He gave His only begotten Son for us (John 3:16). It is in the cross that we see the love of God on exhibit. Paul so stated in Romans, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

If you are longing to be different, if you want to be more than you are now, if you have tried to change and cannot, here's the good news for you! You can experience total transformation when you exercise your faith. Until you have actually received Christ, you have not exercised faith. You can believe the story to be true, but until it moves you to accept the Lord, to invite Him into your heart, you have not exercised faith.

Here's the challenge. "You are meant for better things. You do not have to live like this. There are great possibilities before you. God is leading you and calling you and urging you to lay hold of those." Believe. You can Change!

"If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17).

Be Encouraged

Copyright @ A.Othniel. aocc@vsnl.com

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