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So what?

As I sit writing this article, the television news channel is blaring on about the escalating violence in Libya and the renewed dissatisfaction in Egypt. The price of crude oil is about $115 a barrel and the economic futurists are sharpening their pencils in preparation for a series of doom-and-gloom articles. I change channels and what do I find? I find an American right wing ‘evangelist’ figuratively mounting one of four horses of the apocalypse! Daniel’s king of the South is advancing, the king of the West is about to intervene, and all hell is about to break loose on earth!

So here is my question. So what? So what if the so-called Libyan rebels disrupt the oil production and as a result the price per barrel breaks through $120 and continues to climb? So what if America fulfills Chavez’s cynical prediction, rushes in to secure its oil supplies and as a result China gets militant? Don’t get me wrong. These things would not be good for anyone and I don’t say ‘so what?’ as if they don’t matter. Rather, my question exposes the fundamental problem that ordinary folk like us have, and that is knowing how to respond to the things that are happening in our world; ‘so what are we supposed to do?”

comet comingIf North Africa blazes in social unrest and the price of petrol, and consequently almost everything else, rises steeply… so what are we supposed to do about it? If indeed the TV evangelist is correct and we are witnessing the start of The Tribulation… so what are we supposed to do? Do we sell up everything and head for the hills? Do we accost everyone we meet with an escape-from-the-hell-to-come gospel? My answers are no, and no. We are supposed to be light to the world, not lamps in hiding. We are called to be disciple-makers, not harvesters of expediency driven ‘commitments’. So what then are we supposed to do?

I believe that the book of Hebrews gives us an answer to the ‘so what?’ question. Hebrews 10:19-25 reads; ‘Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’  So what should we do? We should draw near to God, hold to the hope we have, and encourage one another.

The most important thing in these times is to be close to Jesus. The imperative for this hour of human destiny is to spend time in fellowship with the only one who doesn’t change, who will not let us down, and whose secure friendship endures for all eternity.

Now is the time to seek the Lord while He may be found. Nothing is more important than a rich relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Also, a most powerful testimony in these times is the living testimony of a person full of hope. Not hope in materialism, or politics, or religion, but hope in the living God. ‘But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…‘ (1 Peter 3:15-16)

The third thing we should do is to expend time and effort on the church fellowship. We need each other. We need to be encouraged and we need to encourage others. Negative, destructive scare-mongering is not the right response to our times; words of faith, hope and love are.

So what? So press in to God, give a witness of hope to the world, and encourage one another.

 

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Christopher Peppler

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About Me

My name is Christopher Peppler and I was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1947. While working in the financial sector I achieved a number of business qualifications from the Institute of Bankers, Damelin Management School, and The University of the Witwatersrand Business School. After over 20 years as a banker, I followed God’s calling and joined the ministry full time. After becoming a pastor of what is now a quite considerable church, I  earned an undergraduate theological qualification from the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa and post-graduate degrees from two United States institutions. I was also awarded the Doctor of Theology in Systematic Theology from the University of Zululand in 2000.

Four years before that I established the South African Theological Seminary (SATS), which today is represented in over 70 countries and has more than 2 500 active students enrolled with it. I presently play an role supervising Masters and Doctoral students.

I am a passionate champion of the Christocentric or Christ-centred Principle, an approach to biblical interpretation and theological construction that emphasises the centrality of Jesus

I have been happily married to Patricia since the age of 20, have two children, Lance and Karen, a daughter-in-law Tracey, and granddaughters Jessica and Kirsten. I have now retired from both church and seminary leadership and devote my time to writing, discipling, and the classical guitar.

If you would like to read my testimony to Jesus then click HERE.