The Appearing

     I have come across many puzzles recently where you look at a picture of nothing but one number.  It is like someone held the "8" key down for a long time and then went back and put one number 9 somewhere in the puzzle.  You are supposed to find the one numb3er "9".  Or there will be 6 drawings, and only one of them is different and you are supposed to find the one different drawing.  I have to admit that I get involved in these things and am not satisfied until I find the irregularity.  People always entice you to do these puzzles by stating only a genius can find the difference. Once you find the different spot, it is easy to see a second time.  The Bible contains many unique bits of information. Titus 2:11-13 says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"   
       This passage has been in the Bible a long time, well, at least close to 2000 years.  There may be, however, many people who are not aware of this passage and the message that it brings.  Who doesn't know the story?  Sad to say, many don't know because they don't have a copy of the Word of God nor has anyone tried to tell them the account of the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul expands the narrative of the first advent and goes on to say just why it was so important in the first place.  Our focus on missions in the church is one area that seeks to present the story to those who have never heard.  While our mission programs are improving and while people are being sent to all nations to preach and teach the Gospel account of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are still many even in our own civilized world who don't have a clue about these events that are mentioned in this passage alone.  The passage reminds us that the wonderful grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  The events that took place so long ago changed the course of the world.  As much as people would like to ignore it, the calendar was even changed.  In years past, the date would be specified as A.D., or anno domini, the year of our Lord.  People didn't want that so they now call it CE, or common era.  While the event that took place so long ago changed the world, the world still tries to ignore it and that it took place at all.   It's there and we shouldn't ignore it. The instructions that follow are still valid for today, to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world and that we should be looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Praise God today that God has a plan for our lives for all eternity.