Has culmination of the ages come?

1 Corinthians 10:11, ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

Psalms 78, This Psalms by Asaph also speaks volumes about the Israelites and their journey. He too is speaking a warning about those who flout rules of God. He says that these need to be passed on to coming generations.

The Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 10 begins with retelling of the misery of Israelites and how the Lord delivered them all. 2000 years have passed since Apostle Paul wrote this. God created man and gave him power/ authority over everything. Yet it was not enough for him. It continues even today. Man is not content with what they have. They cried while in slavery and were delivered. They were given heavenly manna for hunger. Water came out of a rock to quench their thirst. Their eyes were on the promised land of Canaan, while their heart was still in Egypt. They would recall the food and luxuries they had in Egypt. In no time God called Moses up on the mountain to meet Him. they forgot the God who had led them so far. They created a gold calf and worshipped it. Exodus 32:1, When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Exodus 32:4-6,⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

That day Moses had gone to the mountain and his absence made the Israelites commit a grave sin. Many followers died due to it. Jesus promised us that He will come back again and went back to heaven to the Heavenly Father. He taught us through several parables that the second coming would be unexpected like a robber or a master who leaves his home for a while and comes back without notice. Matthew 24:37-39, ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Seeing the many miracles that Moses performed under God’s power, the Israelites followed him. But they had not received the Lord into their hearts. Today we talk a lot about the wonderous acts of Jesus. But honestly ask yourself, how much place does He have in our personal lives???? It is high time that we pause in our rush and think, aren’t we living a life completely immersed in materialistic pursuits???? Think how many golden calves appear before us in our lives.

Like Moses and Aaron, we too have been given selected ones. But we disregard their words and teachings. In 1 Corinthians 10:5,⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Romans 13:11, ¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The above given verses give us a fair warning from the Bible.

John 14:2, ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

1 Peter 4:7, ⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

God does not fallback on His words and there definitely will be second coming where judgement will take place. Romans 12:2, ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 John 2:15-17,¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Matthew 13:41-43,⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The above given verses from Bible were written not only as warning but as to impart us with the wisdom for the end of time. It is not the imagination of man, but the Word of God. There is no change to it. Believing in what is written let us live with faith that has deep roots within us. May the Holy Spirit strengthen you and me for this.

Amen.