Domes - Our Monthly Newsletter
Dunbar UCC
March 4, 2007
Luke 13:31-35
Salvation
- Right now as I talk, Iran is building a nuclear bomb. North Korea already has one. China can shoot a missile into space now, with amazing accuracy. And our enemies around the world are increasing. Our country has more destructive power than any other nation. For now we’re the king of the hill -- and a lot of people want to push us off. How safe are we from our enemies? And who will save us?
- In 1945, after we dropped nuclear bombs on the cities in Japan of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, a group called the atomic scientists made an imaginary clock that ticks away every day -- they call it a doomsday clock. They are trying to predict Armageddon -- the last war -- the nuclear war, which will destroy this planet. Right now the United States and Russia have more than 7000 nuclear warheads, ready to fire at each other within 15 minutes. Worldwide, there are more than 40,000 nuclear bombs. Iran’s president has openly said that he wants to destroy Israel.
- In 1991, when the Cold War between the U.S. and Russia was officially over, people were optimistic. Both countries said they would make big cuts in their nuclear arsenals. The doomsday clock was set back to 17 minutes before midnight (midnight being the end of the world). But today, with terrorism growing, arsenals growing, destructive technology getting into more people’s hands, plus the climate change, the destruction of ecosystems -- the doomsday clock says that now we’re just 5 minutes to the end of the world. Who will save us?
- Will our children live long enough to become adults?
- Near the end of his life, Jesus looked at the city of Jerusalem. People told him to hide because King Herod, and others, were out to kill him. Why didn’t he follow their advice and save himself. Isn’t that what salvation is? To save ourselves? To have a family we love -- a nice home to live in -- food we enjoy -- enough money to pay our bills. To be happy as much as we can. Isn’t that what salvation is?
- I think our culture lies to us, and we’ve bought the lie. We’ve been given this wonderful Norman Rockwell picture of family, and grandparents with grandchildren, and summer vacations, and puppy dogs playing with toys. And the lie is that we can all have this -- that we can have this innocence and joy -- regardless of what is happening in the world around us. But that’s not true. This world is not going to last. Jesus said that.
- So what, or who, will save us? Our government? Our money? Our weapons of mass destruction? Our families. No. But listen to the Psalmist. He said “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” For us, salvation is Jesus Christ living in our hearts. Our relationship with Jesus Christ: getting to know him, following him, taking him with us everywhere -- letting his light shine through us -- that’s what will save us.