Okey L. King

At the beginning of the 20^th century many people who called themselves progressives believed that they were about to enter a perfect world. They believed that there would be an end to all wars. They believed that all diseases would be cured. They believed that all people would learn to live in peace.

Instead, the 20^th Century became the bloodiest century in all history. War was everywhere and more deadly than ever before. Men, who became hideous monsters, caused the deaths of millions. A trend towards self-centeredness, rebellion, blameism, and a belief in entitlement replaced self-reliance and a sense of responsibility toward others was manifested in many younger people during the last part of the century.

Although some diseases were brought at least temporary under control, others went unchecked. Horrible new diseases exploded upon the scene. Cancer became epidemic. While the average life span was supposed to be increasing, fewer people lived to the age of retirement.

Although the Holy Spirit began to move in more and more churches, church for millions became just religion. Their dues to their religion became two hours of attendance at their church each week and perhaps an offering or the paying of their tithes.

Now that we are in the tenth year of the 21^st Century, the trends of the 20^th Century are increasing. We are mired in war. The obituaries are full of cancer victims. More and more people rely upon the government for their support. Entitlement has become the norm for most. The very thought of losing this entitlement sends many into panic and rage. Millions are still satisfied with a seat in a pew and have little understanding the nature of their call. To one with spiritual vision, the scene might seem bleak.

Why are these things going on in America and in the world? The simple answer is that we are at war. This is not an Earth war. It is a Kingdom war. The main adversaries are not humans. They are Jehovah God and Satan. The outcome of the war is not in doubt. That outcome was decided eons ago. But, the end of that war is near. Satan’s personal doom is sealed. But, the stakes of the war are enormous. Those stakes are human souls. With one lie Satan nearly destroyed God’s goal for every human being. It is God’s will that every human soul spend eternity with Him. With one lie Satan induced mankind to commit the same sin that he committed. That sin was the breaking of the commandment, “Thou shalt have no other god before me.” When mankind conceived from Satan’s lie that they would become their own Gods if the ate the forbidden fruit, mankind was separated from God. It seemed that Satan had won.

But Satan must not have understood God’s greatest power: His love. God is pure love. When the time was right, in that perfect love God sent his only son into the world that mankind would have a bridge back into His presence and into an eternity with their creator.

While the Holy Spirit revival began in the early 20^th Century, the movement of the Holy Spirit has gained great momentum in the 21^st Century. The IPH Church alone has double its numbers from about 1.8 million to four million in the first decade of the 21^st Century. But, this is just the beginning.

While we who can see look out perhaps see a bleak scene, there is a great ray of hope shinning around the world and in America. That ray of hope is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. And, right in the middle of that ray of hope stands the born again, sanctified, and filled with Holy Ghost Christian radical. In great reality, the hope of a lost world is the Christian who has realized their call and who has answered that call. They are the only hope of every lost soul.

The hope of the world is not any local church, any religious ritual, or any set of religious beliefs. It is the humble child of God who has God number one in their life, loves God with all their heart, soul, and thinking, and loves their neighbor as they love themselves. It is the humble Christian who knows that their duty and service to God is 24/7 and not two hours a week in a pew. It is the Christian who knows that they are a lost and dying world’s lifeline. It is the Christian who knows that their service is outside of the walls of a church building. It is the Christian that knows that prayer for the lost is their most important service and that prayer is Spiritual Warfare. It is the Christian that, through faith and the Grace of God, has the courage to confront Satan on a daily basis. It is the Christian who knows that it is no longer they that live but it is Christ that lives in them. IT IS THIS CHRISTIAN WHO IS THE RAY OF HOPE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD!

God bless