Help Wanted

Christians could run this advertisement but it would seem strange to unbelievers. It would read something like this, “You can serve God anywhere in the world. The Spirit will supervise your training by the church. Instructions are truthful and should be followed carefully. Your training will turn you into a new person who is like Jesus. You can become an Ambassador of Christ. There is a great retirement plan for over-comers”.

Being redeemed only takes an instant although the transformation of our nature is a long process. Many people believe that their redemption from sin allows them to live a selfish life. As long as their pleasure is a wholesome activity then God should bless them while they live it. This is completely wrong. People are saved in order to work for the Lord. God’s work is spiritual and it is always about bringing other souls into His eternal family.

The new covenant that God gave humans is about building a brand-new person. This new person has no interest in taking part in worldly pastimes. The Bible says: … anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Cor 5:17 (NLT). We should want to begin living our eternal life right now because our chance to teach others about God does not happen after we leave the earth.

If we hired a worker, our goal would be to have the worker do the job at hand. Whenever a person is born-again God expects them to do His work. Paul made reference to this: …and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Eph 4:11-12 (NLT). Some people want a “pass” that will get them into Heaven but they have no interest in giving their life to God.

One of the reasons people will give us for not working is that they are, not qualified. This is silly because no one is qualified. The Scripture tells us we are not: … qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:5-6 (NLT). Our only requirement is to allow the Spirit to lead in our lives.

Being one of God’s workers is the highest position available on this earth. Paul said: And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Cor 5:19-20 (NLT). Christians are ambassadors of Heaven. It is a real honor to “speak for Christ” about the plans God has for the redemption of people.

Our “help wanted ad” would have thousands of people wanting the work if they realized what a privilege it is to be a Christian. We must be sure to tell the truth so that people who are fair will recognize our honesty and consider giving their life to God. Believers must adopt their new nature in order to join in the harvest of God’s fields. This new work is never boring and there is always room for growth in our wonderful new life.

City of the Future

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. Isaiah 60:1 (NLT). The original Jerusalem was established by David 3000 years ago. Built high in the hills of Israel this beautiful city of history was chosen by God as the center of the earth. However the nations of the world have fought and conquered this city more than 20 times. At the end of human history the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as the capital of the whole world. 

The New Testament contains more of Isaiah’s prophecies than any other Old Testament writer. The well known prophet Isaiah lived and worked for God in Jerusalem. He loved to write about the great future that was coming for Jerusalem his home town. The Scriptures say: Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations. Isaiah 60:15 (NLT). 

This is the reason that Israel has become a nation again after 2600 years of dispersion all over the globe. May 14, 1948 Israel was reborn by the order of the United Nations. In 1967 Jerusalem was recaptured in a war with the Arabs and was later made into the Jewish capital again. In this struggle to rebuild Israel again the Temple of God will soon be rebuilt. And in the future when Jesus returns to earth, He will have Jerusalem built as His capital city.

Many prophecies have been fulfilled but many more are about happen. For example we are told: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Zech 1:16 (NLT). Everything that is happening today is part of God’s plan for the end of human history. Jesus will soon return to rule the whole earth in righteousness. 

There are Christians who say that Jerusalem had its chance in the past and that its place in history is over. But our God does as He pleases. The prophecy says: Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns. and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in my anger, I will now have mercy on you through my grace. Isaiah 60:10 (NLT). Yes, God was angry with Israel in the past but decided to grant them His grace at the end. 

God chose Jerusalem to be His possession from its beginning. He does not give up on His plans because people are sinners. The prophet says that someday: All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory…  At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:21-22 (NLT). Christians know that God has a plan for everything. 

When God was talking to Isaac many years ago He gave this prophecy: I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Gen 26:3-4 (NLT). It is very exciting to see God in the process of fulfilling the promises He made thousands of years ago. 

Today Israel is a world leader in medical, military and internet technology. They have developed missile defense, AOL and agricultural equipment used in America. The Jewish people have the most Nobel laureate’s. Many well know men like Einstein, Freud and Marx were Jews. God has a great future for Israel and the world will someday know God through the Jewish nation. The city of Jerusalem will become the center of everyone’s future.