Where are we in God's purpose for today? We are currently living under God's grace which means He is not dealing out punishment or rewards like He did in the past or as He will in the future kingdom (government) on earth. He is allowing us to do good or evil...a free will of right or wrong. Human beings are born and dying every day without Him determining when one is born or when one will die. Like the old Southwest Airlines slogan use to say: "you are now free to move about the country."
We know that evil exists from the rebellion of Satan and the disobedience of Adam and Eve. To make a long story short, while we are living under grace, Satan is the god of this world according to the written word of God in the verse below. So, while God is silent, evil runs rampant in our world.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Below are a few audios.
Why is God taking so long?
www.knowinggodintheword.org/audio/Ep 6-24 The Why Question 9-Why So Long 6-17-20.mp3
God's grace operating today.
www.knowinggodintheword.org/audio/Ep 6-27 The Why Question 12-Why Not Now 7-08-20.mp3
The chart below shows that God was always in contact with humans on earth. In the Old Testament period, He spoke verbally or through His messengers to (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah etc. In the Gospel period and the Acts period, He spoke through Christ and the apostles. Today in the dispensation of grace, He is verbally silent but speaks to us through His written word, the Bible. In the future kingdom (government) on earth He will once again be in contact with people, speaking from His heavenly throne through the nation Israel on earth, where judgement will go forth once again.
GOD'S PRESENT PURPOSE:
Life today seems meaningless and boring, thinking that God doesn't care, and we just can't wait till it's all over. However, we are living in a great historical time where God's grace is operating while He is silent. He is writing into history His graciousness. Following are just a few examples of how gracious He is today. When evil was all about in the days of Noah, he wiped out the entire human race except for eight. The number eight in the bible represents a new beginning. Today, evil is rampant like in Noah's day but by God's grace, He remains silent. In Acts chapter five, verses 1 thru 10, Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to God and instantly fell to the floor and died. Imagine all the people falling to the ground and dying today for lying, but God remains silent. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities not only known for its homosexuality and pride, but they also had no concern for the poor and underprivileged. God burned down those cities. Today there is homosexuality everywhere and is even accepted in marriage. Also, governments today are more for themselves than for the people, but God remains silent.
So why is God writing this all down in history. In the book of Ephesians, which is God's present purpose epistle,
it is written that today, we are displaying God's rich variety of wisdom to all the unseen rulers and authorities in heaven. God’s purpose in all this is to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in heaven. (Ephesians 3:10)
Also, in the future, He will use us as examples of how gracious He was towards us. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)
So, as we go through each day, some more rough than others, we have to keep focused on God's earthly government. If you believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, you have a free pass into the kingdom. If you are a good person never really committing evil deeds, you'll also be worthy of entering God's government to learn more about Him and His Son. Now we are all sinners and fall short of God's glory but that will be dealt with in His government. No one is perfect except Christ Jesus. God will judge the living and the dead when his government begins. I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1).
So, according to the chart above, the government of God is the next event to occur. There are no signs prior to its commencement. Could happen in our lifetime. Resurrection will happen at that time also. What a reunion that day will bring!
While we wait, pray daily the Lord's prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name;
thy kingdom (government) come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory.
Amen.
WHY...?
Rightly Divide the Word of truth - 2 Timothy 2:15