The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently announced that the position of the “doom’s day” clock will remain where it has been – at 100 seconds to midnight.  “The doorstep of doom is no place to loiter,” the Bulletin noted in explaining its decision.  The clock was created 75 years ago to alert Americans to the danger of nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union.  It was intended to “frighten men into rationality” said Eugene Rabinowitch, a biologist and the first editor of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

There is some reassurance knowing the position of the clock remains the same.  But all indications point to a world that is more uncertain about the future than ever before.  I thought of the Old Testament prophets warning Israel of the “Day of the Lord.”  This is “a special day at the end of time when God’s will and purpose for mankind and His world will be fulfilled.” (Nelson Bible Dictionary).  Since Jesus conquered death and the devil, that day has be seen as an instantaneous event when Christ will return victorious and reign on the earth.

The earliest recording of the Day of the Lord is found in Amos 5:18: “What sorrow awaits you who say, ‘If only the day of the Lord were here.’  That day will bring darkness, not light.”  On that day, God will finally make things right on the earth.  Paul warned the Thessalonians of the day of the Lord: “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (II Thess. 5:1-2).  

The folks who developed the “doomsday clock” have no idea when the end will take place. They seem to assume they possess some knowledge of what might be on the horizon, allowing them to predict the future – all the while ignoring the One who really controls the clock.  Isaiah warned of thinking we can hide our intentions from the Lord. “Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, ‘Who sees us? Who will know?'” (Is. 29:15).   

Long before God’s people were led out of captivity by Cyrus, Isaiah spoke of Cyrus as “my shepherd.”  “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say to Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt’, and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid'” (Is. 44:28).  God declared his intentions to use unusual means to liberate his people from captivity.  He was reminding the people of his sovereign rule in history.

God challenged those in authority , during Isaiah’s time, to come up with a plan for the future: “Take the stand on behalf of your idols, offer arguments, assemble reasons.  Spread out the facts before us so that we can assess them ourselves.  Ask them, ‘If you are gods, explain what the past means – or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future” (Is. 41:22-23 – Message). 

Several months have passed since I first drafted this blog.  Now as I review it, there is serious speculation about the use of nuclear weapons because of Vladimir Putin’s frustration with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  It is a sober reminder of instability of  our world and the wishful thinking of those who speak about peace.  Jeremiah warns us when he said, “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14). 

World Magazine recently ran a two-part series of an interview Pastor Tim Keller gave to senior reporter Sophia Lee.  Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, is one of the leading evangelical pastors in the nation.  He is especially known for his outreach to the unchurched in secular New York.  He has learned to communicate with a skeptical post-Christian culture, and I have personally profited from his insights.

During the interview Keller was asked, “Do you see the world’s culture as becoming increasingly hostile toward Christian values (or perhaps it’s just always been hostile)?”  Keller replied, “Absolutely, yes, the culture is more hostile to Christianity.  Whether speaking of the academy, the media, government, business, popular entertainment, the arts, or social media – our culture is growing more hostile toward Christian beliefs and values.  It is not the same as it has always been.”

Keller then provided some insight on how to respond to this hostility: “First, repent for the ways Christians’ inconsistent lives have harmed the Church’s credibility. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. Third, let people know you are a believer – don’t hide it. Fourth, make sure you are not harsh or clumsy in your words (be sure it’s the gospel that offends and not you).  And last, don’t be afraid of persecution. Jesus promises to be with you.” 

After reading the interview, I thought of John 12:37-43, where John quotes Isaiah in response to people not believing in Jesus – even though he had done miraculous signs in their presence.  “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them” (v. 40).  The Good News divides.

There were leaders, however, who came to believe in Jesus. “But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue” (v. 42).  Then come the fateful words: “…for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (v. 43).  It was entrenched religious resistance in the skeptical Jewish community that finally led to our Lord’s death. If I had been in that religious crowd, I fear I might have been a “fellow traveler” afraid to go public in my confession of Jesus as Lord.

What is your experience as a follower of Jesus?  Do you sense more hostility to Jesus and His message today?  Nowhere in the gospels do we have the promise that it will be easy to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus tells us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).  

When speaking of the end of the age, Jesus told his disciples, “All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life” (Luke 21:17-18).  Toward the end of Matthew, Jesus warned us, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:12).

We need an attitude check. We might have had an easy road to travel in the past, but now we are facing harder times.  The road is rockier and more dangerous.  Pastor Keller has been a beacon of truth in hostile, secular New York City.  We need to pay attention to his advice.