The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
We are therefore Christ’s Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20)
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
June 2011
FREE
WILL EVER COME?
By Seth Halpern - Editor
We are well past the anticipation and (expected) uneventful May 21st doomsday prediction of Harold Camping. It was an intriguing time when atheists and Bible believing Christians were similarly mocking a man who has made too many false predictions. Unfortunately, while the atheists relished the day in celebration, Christians were making sure that they were not “lumped” together with the sideways theology of Camping and his disciples. What seems to have gotten lost in the debacle is that a REAL judgment day is coming. The Bible tells us that no one knows the day or the hour, but we DO know that it is imminent. JUDGMENT DAY WILL COME! In an effort to be “relevant”, the church today attempts to distance itself from the stereo-typical sandwich board street corner preacher who shouts out “Repent”. Most people in our society see these people and discount them as “religious fanatics” or worse. While evangelicals have rightly decried the error of Harold Camping’s theology, we may have also lost some of the zeal (or even belief) for the true end of the world as the Bible speaks of it. There is a myriad of opinion on the end times. How will the world end? Where will we go? Will we live on? When will it happen? Countless books, videos, and seminars deal with potential answers to these and other questions about the end of the world. Yet, I believe that the most important question to ask is “What do we do to prepare for the end of the world?” Beyond the emergency needs of food, water, etc, I’m speaking of preparing for our ultimate destiny. The Bible speaks of two Judgments
made it through Harold Camping’s false prediction, didn’t make it through a powerful tornado that swept through their town in Missouri the next day. The most important question is NOT “When and How will the world end?” but rather “Am I prepared for it when MY world does end?”
Sponsor Spotlight
Carl & Melody Boucher SHUTTER-UP Window Coverings pg. 13
that will come when the world ends. One Hell is a place awaiting only those most judgment is for those whose sins are vile and evil. (See my editorial “The Fate forgiven by the sacrificial death of Jesus of Bin Laden?” elsewhere in this Christ. This judgment will be to reward the publication) God’s Word clearly shows saints with crowns based on what each did that this judgment is for ALL those who for Christ. Again, to be clear, entrance is are without the forgiveness of Christ. Not based on God’s gracious forgiveness given simply the ones we deem “evil”. It is based through Christ’s death. It is only the on God’s standard, not our own. subsequent rewards that are based on our The tragic reality is that this day deeds. WILL come for everyone reading this The other judgment is for the sinner article (or not reading it) as well as for the who has not received the forgiveness of one writing it! The question is not IF, but Christ. This judgment leads to eternal WHEN? And Not simply “When will the suffering and torment. It will be a place end of The World come? But rather when where there is no hint of God or any of the will the end of YOUR world come? Our qualities He possesses. Many people are eternal destiny is not determined when the living their lives either denying it will for real Thethat theme thisArmageddon year is commences. Only one happen, or hoping that that it doesn’t come generation in all of human history will in their lifetime so as to seemingly “avoid” witness the end of the world. But for each judgment. Incidents like Camping’s false of us a day 91:2 will come whenstates: our heart will and is based on the verse from Psalm which prediction fuel the cynicism and disbelief no longer beat, our blood will stop flowing will saythatofthis thedayLord, He is my andwill mycease. fortress, of many“I who think will never and refuge our breath What will my God, in whom I trust.” come. Also, many erroneously believe that happen to us? More than 100 people, who
“A Mighty Fortress is our God”
pg. 8
WHAT’S INSIDE Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 2 Ministry Resources. . . . . Pg. 3 Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4-5 Media/Entertainment . . . Pg. 7 Resources . . . . . . . . Pg. 9 - 10 Community . . . . . . . Pg. 11 - 13 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 15
The Ambassador
1