Ever wonder about yesterday's future; and now it's here?

Ever wonder about yesterday's future; and now it’s here?

How frightening the future we always thought about, praying that the fearful events would not occur, becoming a reality this morning?  Perhaps some of us might realize that these occurrences were a warning to prepare ourselves for what might suddenly appear, catching us off-guard to find a rampart to ward off an impending danger.

Is there anyone who never ponders the possibility of finding these thoughts to occur?  An answer that might confront our imagination will tell us to smile at these thoughts.  But when the results of a blurred vision suddenly arise before our eyes, now that the mist has disappeared, it gives us a picture that the future is not what any of us expected.

Where do the unseen, but spiritually anticipated by Christians, events that prophecies warn us about may mean to most people who yawn and say; “these are not relative for modern man.”  Too many moderns will push aside the elements of scriptural phrases that better fit the Old Testament Hebrews when they were just learning about God’s commandments that would assist them in their journey to the land of milk and honey.  What then is left for man in the 21st century, who attends Mass on a regular basis and puts a specified amount in the collection basket?  Do these prophecies have any significance in his daily trek of faith?  Just what are the requirements of the millennium we are living in that mandate our adherence to ancient warnings that God handed to the early prophets?  Have we become too deep into science and reason that these words from God mean nothing to the 21st century humans?  I doubt that this was the premise that our Creator meant for modern man to ignore and search for an admonishment from a yet to be a modern deity to please our restless understanding of spirituality?  

There is a term that we should adhere to that means “Divine Authority” which places all of us in a position of listening to scriptural prophecy.  This occurs at the moment we hear a moving homily or read the words of divine expository meaning that are prophecies for the 21st century.  Prophets are not an exclusion from the years of B.C.  The Holy Spirit continues to endow men and women with the ability and grace through their faith to submit his Word to the millions who have not heard about Christ or those that ignore what they’ve already been exposed to.

God’s teaching authority never wanes and the many who still need this Word of God, Jesus Christ, to be announced is more necessary now than ever before in human history.  Many people who are ignorant of the prophecies found in the Book of Daniel along with other biblical writers of the Eschatology, which lead us to the Book of Revelation, are there for our understanding and preparation for what is about to confound our faith.  The future we didn’t want to experience is exactly the reality that prophecy warns us about and the adherence to Almighty God in trust and respect for the Passion of Christ is our only hope for salvation.  

Allegedly, when suffering appears to enter our secure lives, we must remember that the Cross of Christ is the only sign of our redemption.  We cannot find that cross that saves us without following the shadow of Christ’s suffering.  Our suffering also is our only way to find that cross which will redeem us through the never-ending mercy of Almighty God.  The future we dreamed about will become the day we are accepted into heaven through the Blood of Christ.  This is what the prophets admonished for our redemption. 

Ralph B. Hathaway