In 1927 in Signs of the Times, John Lewis Shuler wrote: “Sir Isaac Newton made a most daring forecast two hundred years ago regarding a future development in rapid transit, which at that time seemed absolutely beyond the possibility of ever seeing realization. Newton declared that he was convinced from a study of Bible prophecy that there was destined to be a marvelous increase in the speed of transportation on the earth.

“‘I believe,’ Newton said, ‘that in the providence of God, though the method now be entirely hidden, men will yet travel on the earth at the rate of fifty miles an hour.’ Newton lived from 1642-1727. In his day the most rapid travel by land was by horse. Stagecoaches drawn about eight miles an hour by horses held the record on land.”

I imagine that many would have thought that Newton was crazy when he based such a wild prophecy for his day on what he had read in the Bible. He was certainly right, even if he grossly underestimated the speed at which people would travel in the future. Imagine if he could have seen our day when thousands of people are flying daily across the world at speeds more like 500 mph., not to mention the incredible speed that astronauts travel when circling the earth and/or fly to the moon.

So what about Daniel’s prophecy approximately 2,500 years ago? Many Bible students believe that we are living in or are close to the end times—the time when Jesus Christ will come again. Not only has travel speed vastly increased but think about knowledge. We are living today in a time of a knowledge explosion—especially so because of computers, the Internet, email and blogs.

Christ’s first coming is an indisputable fact of history. He promised he would come again so we can be just as certain of his second coming—but only God knows the exact day and hour. The important thing is not the date of Christ’s return, but that we are ready for him when he comes. “Therefore, keep watch,” Jesus said, “because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”²

To help you make sure you are ready for Christ’s return, click ON: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You for Your promise that You will come again for all who believe in You and trust in You for their salvation. Help me to make sure that I will be ready for that day should it come in my lifetime so I will not be embarrassed at your coming. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Daniel 12:4 (TLB).
2. Matthew 24:42, 44 (NIV).

I read about a tour group traveling in the Middle East where the tour guide was telling the tourists to keep a look out for flocks of sheep. He explained how the sheep-herders never drive their sheep. They lead them.

The first flock of sheep they saw were not being drawn or led, but driven relentlessly. They were being coerced with sticks and shouting. What made the difference? This herd of sheep was being driven by the butcher!

God never drives us—his “sheep”—to do anything. As with the ancient Israelites, God draws or leads us “with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.”² And we can choose either to follow his leading/ directions as found in his Word, the Bible, or to go our own way.

But for all who follow him, the reward is the gift of eternal life. As Jesus also said about his “sheep” who follow him: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”³ In the end if we fail to follow Jesus/God, we will be “driven” by the evil one, the consequences of which are unthinkable.

For help in receiving God’s gift of eternal life (and becoming one of his “sheep”), click on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be sure that I am one of Your ‘sheep’ and always hear and recognize Your ‘voice’—and give me the wisdom always to choose to follow Your leading. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. John 10:27.
2. Hosea 11:4 (NIV).
3. John 10:28 (NIV).

Whenever we want to make progress or grow in our personal and spiritual life, or seek to serve God more enthusiastically, chances are we will face opposition and some flack.

On one occasion, I was facing an uncomfortable amount of flack because of a major change of direction I had made in my life, which I believed was right for me to do. But the flack I received came not from “the enemy without” but from opposition within. As the saying goes, “Christians are the only army that shoots its wounded.”

When I was feeling the strain, I was also feeling afraid. Then I pictured in my mind’s eye that I was a pilot flying through enemy territory with a lot of flack coming at me; but sitting beside me was my co-pilot, Jesus Christ! Immediately, I knew I would be safe and that he would guide me safely through the “storm”. And he did.

It helps to remember that no matter what we are going through, Christ’s presence and his Spirit are always with us. A part of the work of the Holy Spirit is that he is not only our Comforter but, as it says in the original language, he is one who is called alongside to help us in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, when I need to make choices, help me to know what the right choices are, and give me the courage to make them regardless of the flack/opposition I might receive … and help me always to ‘see’ Your being with me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. John 14:15-17 (TLB).

From the back porch of her home a friend noticed a beautiful butterfly with its fragile legs caught in a spider’s web. It was flapping its wings wildly trying desperately to escape. Feeling sorry for the butterfly, my friend came closer to see if she could help free it. What she saw, though, was that the harder the butterfly tried to escape, the more it got enmeshed in the spider’s web. As gently as possible she helped free it and was delighted when it was able to break free and fly away.

It reminded her of how we can so easily get entrapped by sin. A little dabbling here and a little dabbling there. We put our toe in sin’s waters as it were and before we know it we are entrapped in the web of our own actions and emotions. And then, the harder we try to escape and free ourselves, the more enmeshed we become.

The fact is we cannot save ourselves from sin’s entrapment and its eternal consequences. Only God can do that. He has provided the only way of escape and that is through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life to pay sin’s penalty. As God’s Word says, “By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”²

If you haven’t accepted God’s salvation from sin’s entrapment and consequences, for help click on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me always to seek to follow Your ways and not dabble with sin’s temptations. Where I have sinned, please forgive me and free me from the entrapments I have got myself into. Above all, thank You for saving me from sin’s eternal consequences and giving to me the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV).
2. Ephesians 2:8.

A NASA official involved in space exploration was talking to a reporter about humans landing on Mars. The reporter was concerned about how they would be able to return to earth.

“That involves a highly complex plan,” the space official said. “It begins with the words, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven.’”

Jokes aside, the reality is that most people do pray at some time or another. Even those who rarely pray often do when they are in trouble. How much better to daily commit and trust our life to God and seek his guidance in all that we do at all times—regardless of our circumstances.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how God is directing us or making our path straight—especially when we’ve been going through a series of rough times. In time, however, if we have daily trusted our life to God and look back, we will see how God has led us all the way. It is true, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him”²—even if it is eventually!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to remember to daily commit and trust my life and way to You for every decision I will be called on to make and for everything I need to do each day. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. King Solomon, in Proverbs 3:6.

2. Romans 8:28 (NIV).