Across the country young people have been getting exam results.  These results can be important in determining the next stage in education or career choices. Many of the diligent have been rewarded, but laziness has reaped its just deserts. So there have been reports of great joy but also tears of disappointment and frustration. However, not all the results are a fair reflection of the students’ true ability and some students are appealing against what they consider unfair assessment.

God has appointed Jesus to be our judge.

 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:10

And, like God, he will be totally just in his judgements (1 Peter 2:23).

So there will be no appeals. But there will be joy and tears. In a parable, Jesus described the judgement of both faithful and faithless servants.

To the faithful:

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master

Matthew 25:23

To the faithless:

…cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:30

God does not want us to ‘fail’. He wants us in His kingdom.

Jesus said to his disciples:

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

And a while later Peter wrote:

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance

2 Peter 3:9

But we do need to repent. Our response now determines not just the next stage in our lives, but our eternal destiny. We need to examine ourselves and prepare for the return of Jesus as our judge and, if we so desire, our king and our Saviour.

The tragic attack on Salmon Rushdie has provoked outcries about the importance of free speech.

Free speech is defined as the right of a person or group of people to express opinions without restriction by government. Many countries, including USA where Salmon was attacked, have this enshrined in law. In other parts of the world this principle is not accepted. For example, in some countries preaching Christianity is strictly forbidden. This is not new. In the first century the Jewish religious authorities tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to prohibit the disciples from teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:27–29).

Even where ‘free speech’ is promoted, there are restrictions; for example, where the language would genuinely threaten health, safety or national security. But the Bible goes further than this. The Jews were strictly forbidden to misuse the name of God.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Exodus 20:7

Sadly, nowadays, the names of God and Jesus are commonly used in profane ways in this country. Years ago, that might have been considered blasphemy: it is certainly disrespectful to God.

Ironically, Jesus was delivered up to be crucified for what the Jews classed as blasphemy. This was because he said he was the son of God, which indeed he was.

And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so…” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy…” 

Matthew 26:63–65

Bible truth is often contrary to the ‘spirit of the age’, and so is not always well-received. But like the apostles, this should not deter us from presenting its message. Of course, we must be careful how we speak about this and about anything else. God has not given us the freedom to speak as we wish. Time and time again the Bible warns us about speech that is filthy, malicious, untrue, deceiving, cursing or corrupt.

Jesus said that “…what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” .

Matthew 15:1

He spoke gracious words (Luke 4:22). And we need to be careful how we use our ‘free speech’, because he also said:

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”

Matthew 12:36–37

Image by 愚木混株 Cdd20 from Pixabay

According to scientific research, a recent extreme heatwave in India and Pakistan is a ‘sign of things to come’. A researcher from Mumbai said that such events were made more likely by climate change and were a harbinger of the region’s future.

This is worrying. And some signs do herald bad events. Others are more optimistic.

The Bible contains lots of signs from God. So much so that the apostle Paul said:

For Jews demand signs.

1 Corinthians 1:22

Jesus despaired of the people asking for signs, when he was already performing miracles among them.

He said:

Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.

John 4:48

But Jesus did give signs to the people. One of the most important was about his death and resurrection: a sign that he was indeed the son of God. They had asked, yet again, for a sign and he said:

An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 12:39­­–40

He also told his disciples about the signs which would herald his return to earth. He lists wars, famine and describes a world in crisis:

… on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.

Luke 21:25–26

Bible students believe that there are many signs that Jesus will come back soon. The fears about potential devastation caused by climate change could well be one of these signs.

At the return of Jesus the world will change beyond recognition: for the better. So we do indeed have signs of good things to come. We surely cannot ignore them.

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay