The END and BEGINNING
by Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir
Whether we realize it or not, we are approaching the end of our historical epoch and face the almost immanent birth of a completely new one. The world is at a crossroad which will affect not only this generation, but the generations of the coming millennium. Lewis Mumford, American social scientist, wrote about 50 years ago that our society is now at a stage where conversion, an inner change and redirection, must precede every outer change or transformation. The theme for the new period will be neither arms and man nor technology and man: its theme will be the resurgence of life, the displacement of the mechanical by the organic, and the re-establishment of the person as the ultimate term of human effort. Our first need is not for organization but for orientation; a change in direction and attitude.
The most important question today is not political, military or diplomatic, however necessary these activities might be, but a question of life or death of the human race. If people do not make a decision on this historical crossroad for the Cross-Road of Christ, a holocaust of death will be the result. There are not "many choices" as some people think; we have only choice between two ways, as the Lord said, one leading to life, the other to destruction: "...the gate is broad and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it; narrow is the gate and hard the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few"Matt.7:13,14.
So far the world - particularly our generation - has been running with mad speed on the broad way of revolt against God and His order, so we are closer today to death than to life. Yet the fact is, as history teaches us, nobody who tries to revolt against God escaped punishment; the revolt itself is the cause of punishment and death. Unfortunately, there are still many fools who think they can defy this irrefutable Law of Life.
Perhaps never before could these two contradictory ways be so clearly seen as they can today. Something like the old "iron curtain" divides the world into two hostile societies professing implacable life ideologies. The Curtain was usually understood as a geographical division between the West and the East and their contradictory political, economic and social differences. But the danger lies deeper than geography and man-made systems: the division is basically spiritual.
Those who are spiritually on the side of God are not only among us, but also in countries governed by atheistic regimes; and those who oppose God and His order are not only there but also in our humanistic societies. The division of the world is spiritual - not geographical. It's no use asking the result of this conflict when it flares up openly. This was answered by God Himself before it was raised by any man. But there is one especially important question which will have to be answered by everyone: who will be prepared to enter the new epoch of life on earth, and who will perish in the ruins of the collapsing world?
The conflict which threatens the world these days is extraordinary in extent and in purpose. Past conflicts were limited to certain territories and groups of people, while the next conflict will affect the whole globe and all people. Also, the motives of past and present hostilities differ substantially. Most wars are waged chiefly for territorial gains and for personal, tribal and national glory and power. The final battles are waged mainly for the soul of men, for the establishment of God-like or God-less society, for life orientation rather than for material gains. We must keep in mind this particular characteristic of present world tension, or we'll misunderstand the meaning of frightful signs of our days.
Catastrophe usually comes when least expected; when living conditions are high, when civilizations reach their peak, when people live in luxury and are prosperous, complacent, and everything seems solid, lasting and beautiful.
Great civilizations of the past perished in such highly advanced circumstances. Antediluvian man perished when everything seemed good to them: "they ate, they drank, they married wives until the flood came and destroyed them all." Also the industrialized post-Flood civilization of Sodom perished in a similar prosperous condition: "they ate... drank... bought... sold... planted... builded, when the fire from heaven destroyed them all." Jesus Christ said "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:26-30). Why is it that civilizations built solely upon the supremacy of man instead of the supremacy of God must perish?"Because you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", says the Lord (Rev.3:17).
People are so used to a spiritually empty, godless life of worldly systems that they are quite satisfied with it and don't want to lose it. They have feared nuclear bombs because they threatened to destroy their worldly life. People have feared communism not for its anti-Christian ideology but because it may have overthrown their capitalistic institutions; they wanted to save their system, not life in its spiritual and moral integrity. We may check our spiritual honesty by asking ourselves and our friends whether we really long for the speedy return of Jesus Christ and for establishment of His Kingdom of Righteousness on earth, without the slightest trace of that worldly life we cherish today.
Woe to us if we betray the Christian heritage upon which our personal, social and national life has been built. This warning concerns each one of us: ordinary citizens and our national leaders as well. More than ever before we must turn to God for protection, guidance and for deliverance from fear regardless of the darkening horizon of the world, and to hear His assurance:
Isaiah 41:10-13
Whether we realize it or not, we are approaching the end of our historical epoch and face the almost immanent birth of a completely new one. The world is at a crossroad which will affect not only this generation, but the generations of the coming millennium. Lewis Mumford, American social scientist, wrote about 50 years ago that our society is now at a stage where conversion, an inner change and redirection, must precede every outer change or transformation. The theme for the new period will be neither arms and man nor technology and man: its theme will be the resurgence of life, the displacement of the mechanical by the organic, and the re-establishment of the person as the ultimate term of human effort. Our first need is not for organization but for orientation; a change in direction and attitude.
The most important question today is not political, military or diplomatic, however necessary these activities might be, but a question of life or death of the human race. If people do not make a decision on this historical crossroad for the Cross-Road of Christ, a holocaust of death will be the result. There are not "many choices" as some people think; we have only choice between two ways, as the Lord said, one leading to life, the other to destruction: "...the gate is broad and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it; narrow is the gate and hard the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few"Matt.7:13,14.
So far the world - particularly our generation - has been running with mad speed on the broad way of revolt against God and His order, so we are closer today to death than to life. Yet the fact is, as history teaches us, nobody who tries to revolt against God escaped punishment; the revolt itself is the cause of punishment and death. Unfortunately, there are still many fools who think they can defy this irrefutable Law of Life.
Perhaps never before could these two contradictory ways be so clearly seen as they can today. Something like the old "iron curtain" divides the world into two hostile societies professing implacable life ideologies. The Curtain was usually understood as a geographical division between the West and the East and their contradictory political, economic and social differences. But the danger lies deeper than geography and man-made systems: the division is basically spiritual.
Those who are spiritually on the side of God are not only among us, but also in countries governed by atheistic regimes; and those who oppose God and His order are not only there but also in our humanistic societies. The division of the world is spiritual - not geographical. It's no use asking the result of this conflict when it flares up openly. This was answered by God Himself before it was raised by any man. But there is one especially important question which will have to be answered by everyone: who will be prepared to enter the new epoch of life on earth, and who will perish in the ruins of the collapsing world?
The conflict which threatens the world these days is extraordinary in extent and in purpose. Past conflicts were limited to certain territories and groups of people, while the next conflict will affect the whole globe and all people. Also, the motives of past and present hostilities differ substantially. Most wars are waged chiefly for territorial gains and for personal, tribal and national glory and power. The final battles are waged mainly for the soul of men, for the establishment of God-like or God-less society, for life orientation rather than for material gains. We must keep in mind this particular characteristic of present world tension, or we'll misunderstand the meaning of frightful signs of our days.
Catastrophe usually comes when least expected; when living conditions are high, when civilizations reach their peak, when people live in luxury and are prosperous, complacent, and everything seems solid, lasting and beautiful.
Great civilizations of the past perished in such highly advanced circumstances. Antediluvian man perished when everything seemed good to them: "they ate, they drank, they married wives until the flood came and destroyed them all." Also the industrialized post-Flood civilization of Sodom perished in a similar prosperous condition: "they ate... drank... bought... sold... planted... builded, when the fire from heaven destroyed them all." Jesus Christ said "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:26-30). Why is it that civilizations built solely upon the supremacy of man instead of the supremacy of God must perish?"Because you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", says the Lord (Rev.3:17).
People are so used to a spiritually empty, godless life of worldly systems that they are quite satisfied with it and don't want to lose it. They have feared nuclear bombs because they threatened to destroy their worldly life. People have feared communism not for its anti-Christian ideology but because it may have overthrown their capitalistic institutions; they wanted to save their system, not life in its spiritual and moral integrity. We may check our spiritual honesty by asking ourselves and our friends whether we really long for the speedy return of Jesus Christ and for establishment of His Kingdom of Righteousness on earth, without the slightest trace of that worldly life we cherish today.
Woe to us if we betray the Christian heritage upon which our personal, social and national life has been built. This warning concerns each one of us: ordinary citizens and our national leaders as well. More than ever before we must turn to God for protection, guidance and for deliverance from fear regardless of the darkening horizon of the world, and to hear His assurance:
Isaiah 41:10-13