“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
The above paragraph is the first paragraph of the Charles Dicken’s classic, A Tale of Two Cities. The opening phrases are some of the more famous lines in all of literature, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...” The paragraph eloquently contrasts the polar opposites that were perceived by Dickens to be present during the era of the French Revolution. During the past few years, it would appear that these words ring true in our current age as well.
We awaken daily to wars and rumors of wars, mind-boggling natural disasters, political and social upheaval that place nations and ultimately the world in a state of turmoil and insecurity, and we could go on. Yet, there is also great revival, new harvest fields are being entered into with the initiating of new church plants, established churches are renewing themselves with fresh vision and purpose. Children are being introduced to the savior; students are learning to apply the Holy Writ in practical, everyday ways; parents are learning to trust in the Lord as they navigate troubled economic waters and relational land mines; elders are reenlisting, realizing that God still has more for them to do. These are great times!
We awaken daily to wars and rumors of wars, mind-boggling natural disasters, political and social upheaval that place nations and ultimately the world in a state of turmoil and insecurity, and we could go on. Yet, there is also great revival, new harvest fields are being entered into with the initiating of new church plants, established churches are renewing themselves with fresh vision and purpose. Children are being introduced to the savior; students are learning to apply the Holy Writ in practical, everyday ways; parents are learning to trust in the Lord as they navigate troubled economic waters and relational land mines; elders are reenlisting, realizing that God still has more for them to do. These are great times!
It is Because of the Times that we must not slumber, nor sleep; rather, we are to remain diligent and sober. No doubt, God has placed us in the State of Illinois “for such a time as this;” to use the words of Mordecai, a man who navigated treacherous times himself (Esth. 4:14). Let us intentionally band together as the united body of Christ, understanding that we have been strategically placed in our world to fulfill God’s purposes in this generation. While we remain aware of the evil that is in our world, let us give ourselves to realizing the best that God has for our world, the wisdom, belief, light, hope and eventually eternal life for the faithful. Embrace the words of the Apostle Paul, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).