April 21, 2013

• hope

  Here's a interesting quote from Greg Koukl: (relevant to many current news stories)

  "The great 20th century atheistic philosopher Bertrand Russell wondered how anyone could talk of God when kneeling at the bed of a dying child.  His challenge has powerful rhetorical force.  How can anyone cling to the hope of a benevolent, powerful sovereign in the face of such tragedy?

  "Then Christian philospher William Lane Craig offered this response: 'What is the atheist Bertrand Russell going to say when kneeling at the bed of a dying child? "Too bad"? "Tough luck"? "That's the way it goes"?' No happy ending? No silver lining? Nothing but devastating, senseless evil?

  "They cannot speak of the patience and mercy of God.  They cannot mention the future perfection that awaits all who trust in Christ.  They cannot offer the comfort that a redemptive God is working to cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  They have no "good news" of hope for a broken world."  

   

  In contrast, those of us who know Jesus Christ do have hope....  He is both powerful enough to bring a complete restoration of the world (Revelation 21:3-4), and sympathetic to us during this intermediate period ("Jesus wept." John 11:35).

  Revelation 21:3-4 "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

   

  • 6:03 pm
  • Comments Off