STOP THE WORLD!

Monday, April 20, 2020

STOP THE WORLD!

Heb 11:13-16

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Stop the World – I Want to Get Off is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Set against the backdrop of a circus, the show focuses on Littlechap, from the moment of his birth to his death. Each time something unsatisfactory happens, he calls out 'Stop the world!'

Well, this little chap can certainly relate! The world which is now marred by sin and sin’s consequences has become a very inhospitable place. Right has become wrong and wrong has been embraced as both normal and acceptable. Those who hold to traditional values and mores have become the pariahs of society. Jesus actually labels believers as such and warns us that it would be so.

John 16:2-3

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

           So, stop the world! Some of us would like to get off! The good news is that Jesus promised to return and to retrieve us from this place and take us home to be with him.

1 Thess 4:16-18

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Dear Lord, the world has become a very inhospitable place for your children. We anxiously await your return to take us home. Even so, come quickly. AMEN